Town of Brookline Massachusetts

312th Annual Report of the Town Officers of Brookline for the year ending December 31, 2017

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Table of Contents Town Officers………………………………………………………...……………… 3 Select Board………………….……………………………………………..……….. 9 Town Administrator………………………………………………………………… 15 Town Moderator..…………………………………………………………………… 20 Advisory Committee……………………………………………..…………………. 21 Town Meeting………………………………………..………...……………………. 23 General Government Town Clerk…………………………………………………………………... 52 Registrars of Voters………………………………………………………… 55 Town Counsel……………………………………………………………….. 56 Human Resources…………………………………………..……………… 57 Public Safety Police Department………………………………………………….………. 60 Fire Department…………………………………………………………….. 92 Building Department………………………………………………………... 99 Building Commission……………………………………………………….. 101 Board of Examiners………………………………………………………… 102 Public Works Administration.……….……………………………………………………... 103 Engineering and Transportation Division ……………………………….. 109 Highway, Sanitation and Fleet Services Division……………………….. 117 Parks and Open Spaces Division……………………………………….... 121 Water and Sewer Division……………….………………………………… 126 Recreation Department………………………………………...………………….. 129 Public Schools………………………………………..………...…………………… 132 Library………………………………………..………...………………………….…. 141 Brookline Interactive Group…………..………...………………………….…..… 146 Planning and Community Development………………………………………... 149 Regulatory Planning..………………………………………………………. 149 Zoning Board of Appeals ……………….……………..…………..………. 150 Preservation Commission……………………..…………………………... 151 Community Planning…………………..………………………………….... 153 Housing…………………………………………………...... 154 Economic Development …………………..……………………………….. 156 Housing Authority…………………………………………………………… 157 Human Services Health Department…………………………………………………..……… 160 Council on Aging……………………………………………………………. 165 Age-Friendly City Committee………..………………….…………..…… 167 Veterans’ Services……………………..………………….……………..… 168 Commission on Disability….. ……………………………………………... 170 Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations…………………………... 171 Commission for the Arts…………………….……………………………... 173 Commission for Women………………………………………………….... 174 Information Technology Department……………………………………………. 175 Finance Treasury Division……………..…………………………………………….. 176 Comptroller’s Division. …………………………………………..………… 178 Assessors Division………………………………………………………….. 179 Purchasing Division……………………………………….………………... 180 Norfolk County Registry of Deeds………………………………………… 182 Retirement ……..………………………………..……………………..…… 184 Telephone Directory..……………..……………..……………....……………..… 185 Town Fact Sheet..……………..……………..……………..………….…………… 186

2017 Annual Report

TOWN OFFICERS For the Municipal Year 2016

______Cheryl Ann Snyder (2019) ELECTED TOWN OFFICES Thomas John Vitolo (2019) MODERATOR ______Edward (Sandy) Gadsby (2018) APPOINTED BY THE MODERATOR TOWN CLERK Patrick J. Ward (2018) ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sean Lynn-Jones (2019) SELECT BOARD Carla Wyman Benka, Vice Chair (2019) Neil Wishinsky, Chair (2019) Ben Birnbaum (2018) Benjamin Franco (2020) Clifford M. Brown (2019) Nancy Heller (2018) Carol B. Caro (2019) Bernard Greene (2018) Lea Cohen (2018) Heather Hamilton (2020) John Doggett (2020) Dennis L. Doughty (2020) TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY Harry Friedman (2019) Puja P. Mehta, Chair (2019) Janet Gelbart (2020) Carol Axelrod (2018) David-Marc Goldstein (2019) Michael Burstein (2019) Neil Gordon (2019) Chris Chanyasulkit (2020) Kelly A. Hardebeck (2020) Koinonia Givens (2020) Amy F. Hummel (2018) Vivien Goldman (2018) Angela Hyatt (2018) Regina Healy (2018) Alisa G. Jonas (2019) Gary Jones (2020) Janice S. Kahn (2020) Karen Livingston (2020) Steven Kanes (2018) Carol Troyen Lohe (2018) Bobbie M. Knable (2018) Jonathan Margolis (2020) David Lescohier (2020) Judith Vanderkay (2019) Fred Levitan (2018) Pamela Lodish (2018) SCHOOL COMMITTEE Shaari Mittel (2018) David Pollark, Chair (2019) Mariah C. Nobrega (2019) Pen-Hau Ben Chang (2018) Suan Roberts (2018) Helen Charlupski (2019) Michael Sandman (2019) Susan Wolf Ditkoff (2019) Lee Selwyn (2020) Suzanne Federspiel (2020) Kim Smith (2020) Michael Glover (2020) Charles Swartz (2020) Julie Schreiner-Oldham (2020) Christine M. Westphal (2018) Barbara Scotto (2018) Beth Jackson Stram (2018) COMMITTEE ON TOWN ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE BROOKLINE HOUSING AUTHORITY Jean D. Berg, Chair (2020) David Trietsch, Chair (2018) Dick Benka (2018) Michael Jacobs, Vice Chair (2021) Harry Bohrs (2019) Barbara B. Dugan (2020) Betsy DeWitt (2020) Judith Katz (State Appt) (2021) Michael Robbins (2018) Joanne M. Sullivan (2019) Martin R. Rosenthal (2018) Robert M. Stein (2019) CONSTABLES Joseph G Figler (2019) COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGNS Neil Gordon (2019) James Fleming, Chair (2013) Stanley N. Rabinovitz (2019) Frank Farlow (2015) Gary Jones (2014)

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Barbara Pastan (2015) Linda Golburgh (Town Clerk Rep.) Joel Shoner (2014) Sloan Sable (Select Board’s Rep.)

______SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS

SELECT BOARD’S OFFICE PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Melvin A. Kleckner, Town Administrator Alison Steinfeld, Director Melissa Goff, Deputy Town Administrator Joseph Viola, Assistant Director Austin Faison, Asst Town Administrator Polly Selkoe, Chief Planner Kara Brewton, Economic Development Officer BUILDING DEPARTMENT Daniel Bennett, Commissioner POLICE CHIEF Charles Simmons, Public Buildings Daniel C. O’Leary Director Tony Guigli, Building Project Administrator PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Andrew Pappastergion, Commissioner COUNCIL ON AGING Frederick Russell, Water and Sewer Director Ruthann Dobek, Director Peter Ditto, Engineering/Transportation Director Erin Chute Gallentine, Parks & Open Space DIVERSITY INCLUSION/COMMUNITY Director RELATIONS Kevin Johnson, Highway Director Lloyd Gellineau, Director RECREATION FINANCE DEPARTMENT Lisa Paradis, Director Jeana Franconi, Director of Finance/ Treasurer/Collector SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT David Geanakakis, Chief Procurement Andrew Bott Officer Michael DiPietro, Comptroller TOWN COUNSEL’S OFFICE Gary McCabe, Chief Assessor Joslin Ham Murphy, Town Counsel John Buchheit, Assoc. Town Counsel FIRE CHIEF Patricia Correa, First Asst. Town Counsel Robert J. Ward, Acting Jonathan Simpson Assoc. Town Counsel

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES TOWN LIBRARIAN Dr. Swannie Jett, Director Sara Slymon, Director

HUMAN RESOURCES VETERANS SERVICES Sandra DeBow, Director William McGroarty, Director

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Kevin Stokes, Chief Information Officer

2017 Annual Report

______Boards and Commissions Appointed by the Select Board

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Dr. Anthony Schlaff, Chair (2020) Chris Chanyasulkit, Co-Chair (2018) Cheryl Lefman (2019) Casey Hatchett, Co-Chair (2020) Patricia Maher (2020) Jennifer Goldsmith (2020) Dr. Peter Moyer (2018) Christine Fitzgerald (2017) Dr. Nalina Narain (2019) Sonal Jhaveri (2018) Gretchen Soddard (2018) Rita McNally (2017) Dr. Gloria Rudisch (2017) AUDIT COMMITTEE Cheryl Ann Snyder (2018) Bernard Greene, Chair Jamie Tober (2017) Peter Finnerty Ginny Vaz (2017) Gregory Grobstein Grace Yung Watson (2017) James Littleton Vacancy (2018) Beth Jackson Stram Lee Selwyn BUILDING COMMISSION Janet Fierman, Chair (2018) BOARD OF ASSESSORS Karen Bresawski (2020) Gary McCabe, Chair (2019) George Cole (2019) Mark J. Mazur (2018) Kenneth Kaplan (2019) Harold Petersen (2020) Nathan Peck (2018)

BOARD OF EXAMINERS COMMISSION ON DISABILITY Barnett Berliner (2017) Saralynn Allaire, Chair (2019) Fred Lebow (2018) James Miczek, Deputy Chair (2019) Vacancy (2016) Myra Berloff (2018) Select Board Member Ben Franco BROOKLINE INTERACTIVE GROUP Robert Heist (2018) Amy Emmert Ann Kamensky (2018) Leslie Forde Joan Mahon (2017) Adrienne Kerman Elaine Ober (2017) Raymond Latif Henry Winkelman (2019) David Leschinsky Laura Nooney CONSERVATION COMMISSION Noah Xu Marcus Quigley, Chair (2018) Pamela Harvey (2019) COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS Werner Lohe (2020) Lea Cohen (2019) Pallavi Kalia Mande (2018) Ohad Cohen (2020) Deborah Myers (2019) Amy Emmert (2019) Roberta Schnoor (2018) Sara Erkal (2021) Benjamin Wish (2018) Betsy Frauenthal (2019) Vacancy (2020) Kebbie Ghaderi (2021) Daniel Goston (2018) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Donna Hollengerg (2018) Marian Lazar (2017) Ilana Hirsch Lescohier (2018) Peter McDonald (2018) COUNCIL ON AGING Courtney McGlynn (2018) Roberta Winitzer, Chair (2019) Syndey Nolan (2020) Peter Ames (2017) Chris Santos (2019) Doris Toby Axelrod (2017) Elmer Sprague (2020) Judith Chasin (2018) Allyson Steinmetz (2021) Philip Fullerton (2018) Nancy Van Zant (2020) Celia Lascarides (2019) Helen Lew (2017) Alberta Lipson (2018)

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John Mulhane (2019) Steven Heiken (Planning Board Rep.) Yolanda Rodriguez (2017) Michael Jacobs (Housing Authority Rep.) Agnes Rogers (2017) Muriel Stark (2018) HUMAN RESOURCES BOARD William Wong (2017) Edward DeAngelo, Chair (2019) Lori G. Cawthorne (2018) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Gerald Raphel (2019) Phyllis Bram (2017) Dana M. Teague (2020) Clara Chin (2018) Beth Venti (2018) Rita d’Entremont (2019) Jean Doherty (2019) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY Paula Friedman (2020) COMMITTEE Marjorie Diana Harvey (2015) Ernest Frey (2015) Barbara Kean (2017) John Gallagher (2016) Sherri Lee (2019) Stephanie Leung (2013) Fran Peter (2020) Ariel Soiffer (2013) Vera Sharma (2018) Vacancy (2016) Jeffrey Tannenbaum (2020) Marian Weissman (2020) MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMITTEE Jackie Wright (2017) Select Board Member Bernard Greene, Chair Malcolm Cawthorne COMMISSION FOR DIVERSITY, Jack Curtis INCLUSION & COMMUNITY RELATIONS Robert Daves Kelly Race, Chair (2020) Amy Kamensky Sandy Batchelder, Jr. (2020) Bobbie Knable John Malcolm Cawthorne (2019) Bill Mitchell Jessica Chico (2019) Alex Coleman (2018) NAMING COMMITTEE Manny Howard (2018) Fred Lebow, Chair (2017) Sean Jaynes (2019) John Bain (2018) Yvette Johnson (2019) Carla Benka (2017) Bob Lepson (2020) Helen Charlupski (2018) Anthony Naro (2018) Wendy Ecker (2018) Dwaign Tyndal (2018) Harry Friedman (Alternate) (2017) Cornelia Van Der Ziel (2020) Ginny Vaz (2019) NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICT Paul Bell, Chair (2016) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD Mark Allen (2020) Paul Saner, Co-Chair (2020) James Batchelor (2017) Anne Meyers, Co-Chair (2018) Dennis DeWitt (2017) Clifford Brown (2020) Dick Garver (2016) Derrick Choi (2017) Deborah Goldberg (2015) Alan Christ (2019) David King (2016) Susan Houston (2018) Robin Koocher (2015) Carol Levin (2018) VACANCY (2017) Kenneth Lewis (2019) Thomas Nally (2019) ALTERNATES Marilyn Newman (2019) Stephen Chiumenti (2015) Alden Raine (2018) Donald A. Warner, AIA (2019) PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION John Bain, Chair (2019) HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD Clara Batchelor (2020) Roger Blood, Chair (2018) Antonia Bellalta (2018) William Hardy (2020) James K. Carroll (2018) Karen Kepler (2020) Daniel Lyons (2020) Rita McNally (Tenant Rep.) (2020) Nancy O’Connor (2020) Jennifer Raitt (2019) Wendy Sheridan (2019)

2017 Annual Report

PLANNING BOARD TREE PLANTING COMMITTEE Stephen Heikin, Chair (2020) Nadine Gerdts, Chair (2019) James Carr (2019) Elizabeth Erdman (2019) Bob Cook (2017) Hugh Mattison (2018) Linda Hamlin (2018) Blair Hines (2020) TRUSTEES OF WALNUT HILL CEMETERY Sergio Modigliani (2016) Joslin Ham Murphy (2016) Matthew Oudens (2019) Nina Brown (2017) Mark Zarrillo (2020) Bob Cook (2018) Gerard Hayes (2017) PRESERVATION COMMISSION Peggy McGuire (2016) David King, Chair (2020) Vacancy (2018) James Batchelor (2020) Wendy Ecker (2020) ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Elton Elperin (2020) Jesse Geller (2018) Rosemary Battles Foy (2018) Christopher Hussey (2020) David Jack (2020) Mark Zuroff (2019) Peter Kleiner (2018) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ALTERNATE MEMBERS: Stephen Chiumenti (2018) Elizabeth Armstrong (2020) Randolph Meiklejohn (2020) Richard Panciera (2018) Kate Poverman (2020) Johanna Schneider (2019) REGISTRARS OF VOTERS Linda Golburgh (2018) Andrew J. Mcllwraith (2016) Peggy McGuire (2018) Patrick J. Ward, Ex Officio

RETIREMENT BOARD James Riley (2017) Gary Altman, Chair (2018) Jeana Franconi (2018) Robert Ward (2017) Michael DiPietro, Ex-Officio

SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE John Dempsey, Chair (2017) Deane Cody (2018) Mary Litterst (2019) Kathleen O’Connell (2018) Clint Richmond (2017) Susan Rittling (2017) John Shreffler (2019)

TRANSPORTATION BOARD Chris Dempsey, Chair (2017) Scott Englander (2017) Jonathan Kapust (2019) Cynthia Lee (2019) Ali R. Tali (2018) Vacancy (2020)

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______MISCELLANEOUS APPOINTMENTS

AGENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF REAL ESTATE Susan Abdou

CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR Robert J. Ward, Acting

FENCE VIEWER Peter Ditto

INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS Daniella Wodnicki & Patrick Maloney

INSPECTOR OF PETROLEUM Robert J. Ward, Acting

INSPECTOR OF WIRES Theodore Steverman

KEEPER OF THE LOCK-UP Daniel C. O’Leary

LOCAL MOTH SUPERINTENDENT OF INSECT PEST CONTROL Andrew Pappastergion

RIGHT TO KNOW COORDINATOR Sandra DeBow

MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK William McGroarty & Elmon Hendrickson

2017 Annual Report

Select Board

L-R: Town Administrator Mel Kleckner, Nancy Heller. Neil Wishinsky (Chair), Heather A. Hamilton, Benjamin J. Franco, and Bernard Greene.

In November 2017, following 312 years since the Town of Brookline’s incorporation, Town Meeting voted to formally change the title of its chief elected board from Board of Selectmen to Select Board. We are supportive of this new title, giving deference and respect to gender neutral language. While it is challenging to change hundreds of years of tradition, we are working very hard to use this new title in all written and oral communication.

The Select Board is pleased to submit this report of its activities during 2017. At the Annual Town Election on May 2, Select Board Member Ben Franco was reelected to serve a new three-year term. Heather Hamilton was elected for the second position on the Board, replacing long-term Select Board member Nancy Daly, who chose not to seek reelection after serving 12 years. Nancy Daly was an effective Board member who always put the Town’s interests first, and was especially supportive of the Town’s senior citizen population. We welcome Heather to the Board and thank Ms. Daly for her energy and commitment to the Town of Brookline. Following the election, the Board chose Member Neil Wishinsky to serve as its chair for the upcoming year.

The Board meets on most Tuesday evenings throughout the year to handle a variety of important tasks, including adopting Town policies, issuing licenses and permits for restaurants and other commercial activity, approving contracts for municipal projects and services, and making recommendations on the annual budget and other matters to come before Town Meeting. The Board assigns its members to serve as liaisons to various municipal boards and committees throughout the year. In addition, individual Select Board Members serve as chairs of many ad hoc committees to advance a project or policy issue. Following are some of the more notable activities that took place in 2017.

Board Member Neil Wishinsky led the effort to develop a compromise plan to resolve the ongoing dispute over expansion at Hancock Village in south Brookline. The subject of two separate Chapter 40B housing proposals, the development at Hancock Village is an extremely controversial matter that has played out in many public forums and court rooms over the last several years. The Town’s goals in the negotiations were the reduction in scale and impacts of the new residential buildings, especially to move development out of the “buffer strip” that borders the homes on Beverly and Russett Road, and to limit future development (the “one and done” concept). The proposed Master Plan successfully met the Board’s goals by reducing the overall number of housing units and buildings, modifying the scale and physical location of other buildings, preserving open space, maintaining affordable housing and obligating the developer to significant mitigation payments/improvements. Unfortunately, the master plan did not receive the two- thirds vote of Town Meeting necessary for approval. While disappointing, the Select Board accepts the decision of

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Town Meeting and the opposition led by the neighborhood and will work hard to mitigate the impacts of this significant Chapter 40B project.

Through efforts led by Member Nancy Heller, the Town completed a Housing Production Plan (HPP), detailing affordable housing production goals. Throughout all of 2017, the approved HPP provided the Town with a Chapter 40B safe harbor period, preventing new Chapter 40B applications. While this safe harbor will not last forever, it provided the Town will relief to focus on Chapter 40B projects already in the pipeline and to pursue other affordable housing initiatives. One such initiative is the possible use of Town owned property to facilitate affordable housing development. Member Heather Hamilton led the Kent/Station Street Affordable Senior Housing Committee, which is exploring how air rights might allow for the development of affordable senior housing on this outdoor parking facility, while retaining public parking on the site.

2017 was a period of social turmoil in the United States following the contentious presidential election of November of 2016. One of the more controversial issues involved the country’s immigration policies and how cities and towns would (or would not) assist in the federal government’s enforcement thereof. Member Bernard Greene was very active working with the Police Department and the Town’s Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations Commission in developing formal policies for the Town to follow. In February, the Select Board adopted a Statement expressing its deep concern of the Trump Administration’s recent statements and executive orders on immigration policy, and reaffirmed certain guiding moral principles including its commitment to providing welcome and sanctuary to all Brookline residents and visitors, regardless of their immigration status. In April, the Board followed up by approving a General Order that limits the Police Department’s authority and resources in cooperating with administrative orders of the federal immigration agency. Essentially, the Board has ordered the Police Department to treat all persons without regard to national origin or immigration status.

The Board was actively involved in the process to site a new, 9th elementary school in Brookline to meet growing school enrollment. Unfortunately, the Board’s prior decision to pursue school construction at the site of the former Baldwin School was hampered with legal issues and strong neighborhood resistance. Board chair Neil Wishinsky has led the Board’s efforts to study alternative sites in coordination with the School Committee, Park and Recreation Commission, neighborhood groups and others. The project to expand Brookline High School has been a more cohesive and positive process, despite its complexity and cost. Led by Member Nancy Heller, this project involves the acquisition of an adjacent private parcel of land at 111 Cypress Street upon which a new classroom building would be constructed. The Town is working with the MBTA to construct a portion of the building over the Green Line tracks in order to effectively integrate it with the remaining high school campus. At the Special Town Meeting in November, funding for the acquisition of 111 Cypress Street and for schematic design services for the High School expansion was approved. At the Annual Town Election in 2018, Brookline’s voters will be asked the exempt the debt costs for this project from the annual tax levy limitation imposed by Proposition 2½.

In addition to the capital costs created by increasing school enrollment, the Town must decide how to fund the increasing operating costs of a public school system that needs to hire more teachers and provide resources to more students while maintaining the quality of education Brookline is known for. The Board established a new Override Study Committee to determine whether an operating tax override of Proposition 2½ shall be recommended to support the Town’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget. Select Board Members Ben Franco and Heather Hamilton will lead this effort.

In response to recent and future proposals to increase property taxes to meet the operating and capital needs of the Town, the Board led a committee tasked with making the cost of local government affordable for less prosperous residents of the community, including senior citizens living on fixed incomes. Select Board Member Ben Franco chaired this committee’s efforts charged with evaluating residential property tax relief for low and moderate income senior homeowners and developing appropriate policy recommendations for senior residential taxpayers with low or moderate incomes.

Last year, we reported on the activity of the Board’s licensing committee, co-chaired by Members Bernard Greene and Selectman Ben Franco, addressing the new medical marijuana law. Just as the Town was getting used to having a medical marijuana dispensary in the community, the voters of Massachusetts approved an initiative petition that would legalize the possession, consumption and sale of marijuana to adults for recreational purposes. In order to protect the Town’s legal rights, the Committee recommended and Town Meeting approved a zoning moratorium on any expansion of marijuana land use. Once the state finalizes corrective legislation and regulation of the initiative law, the Town will

2017 Annual Report be able to enact reasonable zoning and general by-laws to replace the moratorium. It is expected that this will happen at the Annual Town Meeting in 2018, paving the way for this new land use and social experiment.

The Select Board is very active and supportive of environmental issues facing Brookline and the region. Member Nancy Heller is the Board’s liaison to its Climate Action Committee. In the summer of 2017, the Town implemented a community electricity aggregation program, referred to as Brookline Green Energy. By aggregating the entire electricity load of its residents, the Town was able to purchase electric supply at volume and offer more options for renewable energy at stable, competitive rates. Using the consultant Good Energy, the Town was able to obtain a highly competitive rate of 10.398 cents per kilowatt hour for traditional energy for all rate classes, beating Eversource’s rate of 10.75 cents per kilowatt hour. The Town was also able to take advantage of declining prices in the renewable energy market. The new bid with Dynegy pegged the incremental cost for the Brookline Green (25% renewable) product at about $2.03 per month for a typical household.

Select Board Member Nancy Heller was also the liaison to the year-long Centennial celebration of John F. Kennedy’s birth in Brookline. The Town was proud to partner with the National Park Service and others in this wonderful celebration of the life of the 35th President of the United States, who began his life at his family home at 35 Beals Street.

In addition to the specific assignments listed above, each Board member devotes a great deal of time to other priorities and projects of the Town. It is impossible to list them all, but a few key assignments in 2017 included; Neil Wishinsky- the Comcast cable television license renewal and the Hubway bicycle sharing program; Nancy Daly- Council on Aging and the CDBG Advisory Committee; Ben Franco- Commission on Disability and the Noise By-Law Committee; Bernard Greene- MLK. Jr. event planning and the Audit Committee; Nancy Heller- the Tree Protection By-Law Committee and the Age Friendly Cities program; Heather Hamilton- the Massport Advisory Committee.

Each year as part of the annual budget process, the Select Board adopts a series of objectives and priorities for the coming year. This process is instructive when allocating funds in the Budget, but also when determining the weekly agenda and ongoing activities of the Board. The following objectives were adopted by the Board in December in advance of the annual budget process;

1. To continue to observe and implement policies and practices to ensure long-term financial sustainability, including:

 the recommendations of the Override Study Committee, as adopted by Town Meeting Resolution in March, 2008.

 build on the work of the 2014 Override Study Committee in order to determine the support needed to sustain quality town and school services.

 the recommendations of the Efficiency Initiative Committee and OPEB Task Force, where feasible, and to explore new opportunities for improving productivity and eliminating unnecessary costs.

 fiscal policies relative to reserves and capital financing as part of the ongoing effort to observe sound financial practices and retain the Aaa credit rating.

 efforts to enter into PILOT Agreements with institutional non-profits along with an equitable approach for community-based organizations.

 support of the business community and vibrant commercial districts.

2. To develop and implement a CIP that addresses the school space pressures brought on by the dramatic increase in K-12 enrollment, that at the same time preserves other high-priority projects:

 to continue major public projects in progress, including the Devotion School, Fire Maintenance and Training Facility, Water and Sewer infrastructure improvements, Brookline High School, a Major K-8 project, and Brookline Reservoir Park.

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 to complete major public projects in various stages of planning, including Brookline High School, Gateway East/Village Square, Larz Anderson Park improvements, and the Driscoll School HVAC improvements.

 to complete Coolidge Corner Library renovations.

 to continue to invest in technology and energy efficiency projects that yield long-term operating budget relief.

 to upgrade the fleet of parking meters.

3. To continue to support the work of the 2017 Override Study Committee as the group provides a report to the Board concerning a permanent operating override.

4. To continue to work with the School Committee on the development and execution of a comprehensive plan to address the space and enrollment needs in the schools.

5. To continue the Town/School Partnership as the means of budgetary planning for financial issues that span municipal and school interests.

6. To integrate diversity and inclusion into the Town’s business objective of providing excellent government services that effectively address the needs of all citizens.

7. To develop innovative programs and initiatives to increase racial diversity and integration in the Town, including marketing programs, incentives, and other initiatives.

8. To continue to provide leadership and support to the Town Administrator, the Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations Office, Boards and Commissions and other community stakeholders in collaborative efforts to implement meaningful diversity and inclusion initiatives.

9. To have three or more Town Departments be reviewed through the GARE process.

10. To continue to contract with former School Superintendent, Joe Connelly, to serve as project manager for a 9th school site study process. Both the Board and School Committee will receive regular updates on the progress of various studies with formal updates to be provided as needed.

11. To assist the School Department with the 9th School feasibility study and schematic design.

12. To work with state legislators to increase the income limits for tax deferrals and the asset threshold for the circuit breaker, pursuant to Article 6 of Fall 2017 Special Town Meeting.

13. To work with state legislators to increase the number of liquor licenses available in Town, pursuant to Article 9 of Fall 2017 Special Town Meeting.

14. To develop a charge and appoint a Committee concerning Indigenous Peoples Day.

15. To send copies of the resolution concerning criminal justice reform to our legislators, statewide elected officers, and the Norfolk County District Attorney with the request that our state Senator and Representatives update the Town on significant General Court developments.

16. To prepare the Town for any potential federal encroachment on local prerogatives related to immigrant and refugee persons in Brookline by, for example, staff training, Town Counsel legal analyses, written guidance, and the development of legal options.

2017 Annual Report

17. To implement recreational marijuana regulations; in accordance with the regulations of the Cannabis Control Commission.

18. To identify ways to work with Massachusetts State and Federal elected officials to develop plans and strategies to defend against federal encroachment on Town regulation of medical and recreational marijuana, including identifying possible federal or state legislation that Town officials could support.

19. To work with the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works in delivering the Gateway East Project to 100% design, while coordinating the project with other public and private development projects.

20. To pursue opportunities to grow the tax base through commercial development.

21. To update the zoning by-laws.

22. To prepare a five-year Preservation Plan to establish a comprehensive and methodical program to proactively promote the preservation of Brookline’s heritage.

23. To analyze the action items presented in the strategic asset plan.

24. To increase the production of affordable housing; this will eventually lead to Brookline qualifying for safe harbor under Chapter 40B.

25. To seek racial equity in housing options.

26. To identify and pursue, with the assistance of other municipal departments, energy efficiency improvement and funding opportunities for municipal buildings.

27. To assist with the development of solar facilities and reduction of the use of fossil fuels, including managing grants and permitting processes, as needed, on appropriate Town-owned property.

28. To continue to plan for a climate vulnerability assessment focused on the risks to local resources from climate change.

29. To plan for non-environmental disasters, such as terrorism, through assessments.

30. To continue improving energy efficiency in all Town and School buildings by using grant, rebate monies and/or CIP funds.

31. To work with users of all facilities and continue all efforts to make public buildings fully accessible.

32. To add multigenerational programs centered on food and nutrition.

33. To advocate for and provide jobs for vulnerable low income elders at risk of poverty.

34. To continue to partner with LGBT Aging Project on training and supportive programs for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elders.

35. To conduct annual survey of senior center participants and/or volunteers.

36. To assess the space needs of the senior center and explore possible expansion.

37. To continue to provide support and services to Brookline residents and their families with Alzheimer’s disease including hosting a Memory Café program.

38. To continue an active food distribution program for low income Brookline elders.

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39. To complete the Design Review Process for the renovation of Brookline Reservoir Park.

40. To continue to install water bottle refill stations in parks and open spaces to reduce the use of single serving disposable water bottles.

41. To pursue “Complete streets” designation in future projects.

42. To work with National Grid to ensure they document gas leaks throughout the community, grade them by severity, and undertake appropriate mitigation and restoration actions.

43. To revise the tree protection guidelines provided by the Town, pursuant to the recommendations of the Tree Study Committee. This can be accomplished by providing site plan review, or to include tree protection in the storm water management by-law section that concerns erosion.

44. To pursue succession planning for Department Heads.

45. To continue to explore options to rectify inequities inherent in the Norfolk County structure.

46. To strengthen relationships with Boards and Commissions.

47. To continually evaluate the operational and financial merits of contracted services to see if the Town would be better served by bring the services in-house.

48. To advocate for increases in state funding in order to alleviate pressure on the Town's budget. In particular, increased funding for: Ch. 70 Educational Aid; Ch. 90 Road Improvement Aid; Unrestricted Government Aid.

The Select Board wishes to acknowledge the retirement of Dr. Alan Balsam as the Town’s long-term and outstanding Public Health Director.

The Board thanks Mel Kleckner, Town Administrator, Melissa Goff, Assistant Town Administrator and the entire staff of the Select Board’s office for their dedication and competence in coordinating the Board’s activities while managing the affairs of the Town government. Finally, the Board acknowledges the fine work of all the department heads and their staff during 2017.

2017 Annual Report

Town Administrator Melvin A. Kleckner

It is a privilege once again to report on the affairs of Brookline’s town government and the major issues affecting the Brookline community in 2017.

Chapter 40B Housing Development and Economic Development

As has been the case for the last few years, the overwhelming number of proposed Chapter 40B housing developments dominated the efforts and focus of many Town agencies, boards and departments. Chapter 40B is a state law that mandates an expedited permitting process and favoring development in communities that do not have 10% of their housing stock certified as affordable. Essentially, a developer proposing a residential project that includes 20-25% of its units as affordable based on guidelines established by the state is allowed to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a Comprehensive Permit to preempt traditional zoning restrictions (including height and scale, for example).

On March 22, 2017 the State granted the Town a one-year “safe-harbor” from 40Bs based on the fact that the Town had prepared and officially adopted a Housing Production Plan. The safe harbor authorized the ZBA to deny Comprehensive Permit applications given the progress made towards increasing compliance with the state’s 10% requirement. While this safe harbor did not affect development proposals that were already in the pipeline and pending before the ZBA, it did provide the Town with some relief from the onslaught of applications.

Two major Chapter 40B developments involved the significant expansion at the current Hancock Village residential complex in South Brookline. The Comprehensive Permit for the initial proposal (Residences of South Brookline) was approved in February of 2016 for 161 housing units. An application for a second project (Puddingstone) proposing 226 housing units was submitted in April of 2016. The Select Board and several residential property owners filed suit to overturn the 40B permit for ROSB, creating an opportunity for dialogue with the property owner, Chestnut Hill Realty (CHR). Following weeks of intense negotiations, a Memorandum of Agreement was reached between the Town, CHR and the neighborhood litigants that resulted in a “Master Development Plan” replacing both 40B projects and capping future development at Hancock Village.

Contrasted to the combined 40B proposals, the Master Development Plan would have reduced the overall number of new housing units and buildings, modified the scale and massing of additional development, adjusted the physical location of the new structures, preserved open space, removed existing and reduced projected traffic from one of the neighborhood streets, and obligated the developer to provide significant mitigation payments and improvements to the Town and neighborhood while at the same time creating new affordable and market rate housing and moving the Town toward the 10% threshold. The various agreements necessary to implement the Master Development Plan were extensive and complicated, undoubtedly making it difficult for Town Meeting Members to fully grasp the benefits of the Master Development Plan relative to the 40Bs. This resulting confusion contributed to the defeat of the Master

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Development Plan at the 2017 Fall Town Meeting for lack of the two-thirds majority vote required for zoning amendments (the proposal did receive a simple majority). The defeat was a difficult one for Town leaders and staff who worked extraordinarily hard to create a plan that was significantly superior to the 40B proposals and provided genuine advantages to both the Town and the neighborhood compared to the 40B projects. I want to especially acknowledge Select Board Chair, Neil Wishinsky, for his leadership, dedication, commitment and hard work on this initiative.

While demand for residential units dominated the development activity in Brookline, there was substantial progress on several important commercial projects in 2017. Children’s Hospital began construction of their ambitious Brookline Place project, a transit‐oriented development with a mix of uses that will transform this active area adjacent to the Brookline Village MBTA stop. In Cleveland Circle, development has taken shape at the former Circle Cinema site. This is also a fine example of transit oriented development, located at the intersection of Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue and a short walk to two MBTA stops. This development will include a hotel, luxury adult/independent living apartments and retail spaces along Chestnut Hill Avenue.

Permitting and site work has commenced on the new hotel development at 700 Brookline Avenue at the “River Road site”. A 175 room Hilton Garden Inn with a restaurant and ground-floor café will emerge from this formerly underutilized site. The Town believes this and other development activity along the Town’s Route 9 corridor will positively transform this area bordering Brookline Village and leading into the Longwood Medical Area of Boston.

An example of public investment to support private development activity is the Town’s Gateway East project. An $8 million public works project funded with federal, state and local sources, Gateway East will improve the design of the major intersection of Route 9 at Brookline Village, enhancing the flow and safety of all modes of transportation and creating a more accessible and aesthetically pleasing environment. The project has advanced to the 75% design stage and will receive its final approvals by Town Meeting in the spring of 2018.

School Expansion Planning

The steady increase in enrollment in Brookline’s public schools has been well documented. The Town continued its goals of locating a site for an additional (9th) elementary school and expanding the capacity of Brookline High School. Meanwhile, much progress has been made in constructing the new and expanded Devotion School. Construction is difficult in this highly congested part of town. The project will open in time for school in September of 2018, at which time the old Lincoln School will transition from the temporary Devotion School to needed space for Brookline High School.

The challenge of finding a suitable site(s) to expand elementary classroom space is one of the most vexing I have encountered in my career. After several years of considering dozens of possible sites (or combinations thereof) it is obvious that there is no perfect solution. The balancing of location, cost, environmental issues and traffic impacts is difficult enough. When adding significant legal hurdles to convert municipally owned land and well-funded neighborhood opposition to the equation, the ability to secure public support is daunting. When the preferred site of the Baldwin School became a victim to these dynamics in the fall of 2017, the Town looked across the street to the vacant parcel of land owned by Pine Manor College at the corner of Heath and Hammond Streets. The suggestion of the Town using its power of eminent domain to acquire the site became a controversial issue, and Pine Manor’s opposition was strong. The Special Town Meeting in November converted the prior funding to design the Baldwin School site to yet a new study to reconsider the Baker School site and other sites including, but not limited to, the Pierce School site at 50 School Street. The Town has retained the services of former Acting Superintendent of Schools, Joseph Connelly, to coordinate this multi-faceted study.

As problematic as the elementary school decision has been, the process to identify a plan to expand the High School has been relatively free of controversy. A feasibility study authorized at the Annual Town Meeting resulted in a plan to acquire an adjacent parcel of land at 111 Cypress Street upon which a new classroom building would be constructed. The hope is to work with the MBTA to construct a portion of the building over the MBTA Green Line tracks, allowing this new facility to be integrated with the remaining high school campus. The project will also include new science facilities within an existing high school wing. The costs of expanding the high school are substantial. Preliminary budget numbers indicate a total budget of approximately $200 million with approximately $170 million funded via a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion vote scheduled for May of 2018. At the Special Town Meeting in November, funding for the acquisition of 111 Cypress Street and for schematic design services for the High School expansion were approved.

2017 Annual Report

Finally, the Town was the beneficiary of an extremely generous gift by philanthropist and Brookline parent Laura Trust, who acquired the property at 127 Harvard Street to construct an early childhood center with classrooms, meeting space, administrative offices, and a playground. The Town’s early childhood program, referred to as BEEP, will occupy this beautiful new facility in 2019, helping to alleviate the overall space crunch in the school system.

In addition to the costs of constructing new facilities, the costs associated with an increasing pupil population demands additional teaching and related operating costs. A Proposition 2½ tax override was required in Fiscal Year 2015 for a three-year period and it appears that the budget in Fiscal Year 2019 may require an additional tax override. In September, the Select Board established a new Override Study Committee (OSC) to determine whether an operating tax override of Proposition 2½ shall be recommended to support the Town’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget. The recommendation shall detail the amount of any override, its allocation and for how long its intended support until consideration of the next tax override.

Municipal Services and Regulation

Throughout 2017, the Town prepared for the legal sale of marijuana to adults for recreational use as authorized by Massachusetts voters via initiative petition. Until such time as the state determines how it will implement the new law, the Town decided to enact a zoning moratorium. It is expected that the moratorium will be lifted at the Annual Town Meeting in 2018, at which time the Town will propose a new zoning by-law and a general by-law to regulate the location and manner of this new retail operation. Also at this Town Meeting, the Town will authorize a new 3% excise tax on the sale of non-medical marijuana. With an existing and successful medical marijuana dispensary in Brookline Village, we fully expect that such an existing establishment will be one of the first to receive state authority for general retail sales.

In May after several years of planning and approval, the Town began a new system of trash collection that incentivized recycling in order to reduce costly and environmentally damaging disposal of solid waste. Referred to as modified Pay as You Throw (PAYT), the new system links the volume of trash collected with the annual service fee. Three different sized trash carts were made available, with the cost increasing in relation to the size of the cart. By employing a uniform cart design, the Town began to collect trash with automated equipment, reducing labor costs and minimizing employee injuries.

In June, the Town employed a new digital application allowing users with mobile devices to pay for parking electronically. This “pay by cell” service proved to be very convenient and popular, resulting in $878,235 in net revenue from over 320,000 transactions.

The Town has been impacted with costs associated with the use of credit cards for payment of various municipal obligations. While convenient to users and an efficient collection system for the Town, the costs for credit card processing are exorbitant and unaffordable in a municipal environment. In December, the Select Board approved a new policy of assessing credit card users a 2.95% convenience fee with a $1.00 minimum on each transaction. The Town encourages users to use electronic checking account debiting to avoid the convenience fee when possible.

With advances in technology and reliance on electronic systems linked to the Internet, the Town is exposed to security attacks (hacks). The Town experienced such an attack on November 20, when it was victimized by a sophisticated e- mail scheme commonly referred to as the “Business E-Mail Compromise”. We were fortunate to have discovered the security breach soon enough to alert our banking partner and the FBI, who assisted the Town in recovering funds at risk. The Town has implemented new banking protocols and other financial control measures to avoid such attacks in the future.

In June, the Town rolled out a voluntary electricity aggregation program for Town residents. Working with the Select Board’s Climate Action Committee (SCAC), the Town was pleased to announce the selection of Dynegy, Inc. to supply the community’s electricity for a 30-month term. The Town obtained a highly competitive rate of 10.398 cents per kilowatt hour for traditional energy which the Town locked in for 30 months, beating Eversource’s standard rate of 10.75 cents per kilowatt hour. The program also offers an alternative product that provides 100% additional renewable energy. Participation in the program is at 90% of all users.

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Community Life

Brookline is a vibrant community with many events, activities and celebrations throughout the year.

In January, the Town began a year-long celebration of the 100th year anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s birth in Brookline. The 35th President of the United States, Mr. Kennedy was born on Beals Street where his boyhood home is now a National Historic Site. He attended public school at the nearby Devotion School. Led by the National Park Service, the Town helped staff and manage a committee to plan and organize a series of events throughout the year honoring President Kennedy’s amazing legacy. The highlight of the year was on May 29, when the community celebrated JFK’s birth at his boyhood home. The year concluded on the date of his death on November 22, with an emotional wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the life and legacy of Brookline’s favorite son.

Brookline is fortunate to have many civic and community based organizations that complement the Town’s service and programs. One such organization worth mentioning in 2017 is the Brookline Community Foundation. The Brookline Community Foundation focuses on important community needs by inspiring philanthropy and awarding strategic grants while helping to build a more vibrant, engaged and equitable town. The Town of Brookline is proud to partner with the Foundation on its educational scholarship program, mitigation of the social impacts of substance abuse through health and wellness and managing the Brookline Youth Fund.

Government Organization and Personnel

2017 continued the trend of replacing an aging department head corps. In January, Health and Human Services Director Dr. Alan Balsam retired after 22 years of service to the Town of Brookline. Dr. Balsam was an engaging and effective department head who was instrumental in implementing Brookline’s activism for health and environmental regulation into practical and workable solutions. Alan was the soul of Brookline’s management team who will be sorely missed. Following a competitive and intensive search, in April I recommended the appointment of Dr. Swannie Jett as Public Health Director. Dr. Jett is a career public health professional, most recently serving as Health Officer and CEO of the Florida Department of Public Health in Seminole County. Dr. Jett is also a leader in national public health policy, having served as president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. We welcome Dr. Jett to Brookline and look forward to a long and rewarding tenure. Dr. Swannie Jett

Following a lengthy process to fill the Finance Director’s vacancy created by the retirement of Steve Cirillo, I was pleased to recommend appointment of Ms. Jeana Franconi, CPA in April. Ms. Franconi is a career public finance professional, having most recently serving as Budget Director in the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts. I am confident that Ms. Franconi will use her solid experience and expertise to maintain Brookline’s excellent financial reputation while seeking new and innovative ways to deal with the fiscal challenges faced by municipalities today. I wish to acknowledge and publicly thank Assistant Treasurer Debbie Mann for her contributions during the transition, along with Assistant Town Administrator Austin Faison who provided management oversight for this extended period.

Following the retirement of Fire Chief Paul Ford in 2016, Deputy Chief Robert Ward was appointed Chief of the Department on an acting basis. In July, I was pleased to recommend the permanent appointment of Mr. Ward.

Jeana Francnoi Finally, in late November long-time Chief of Police Daniel O’Leary announced that he would retire in January of 2018. Professional

In January, I began a term as president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), the non-partisan organization dedicated to training and advocacy of Massachusetts city and town governments. I was proud to have served in this role, and honored to interact with many influential leaders in Massachusetts state and local government. I was especially appreciative of working with MMA’s executive director Geoff Beckwith, who is a dedicated and committed professional. As president of MMA, it was my duty to preside over the monthly meetings of the Local Government Advisory Committee, a body appointed by the Governor. It was particularly rewarding to have Lieutenant

2017 Annual Report

Governor Karyn Polito actively engaged in the work of this committee and so committed to the ongoing partnership between local government and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In addition to my role at the MMA, I continue my service as a commissioner of the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) and on the MAPC’s Metro Mayors Coalition.

I could not perform my job without the dedicated and effective assistance of many. I am extremely appreciative of the commitment and performance of Deputy Town Administrator Melissa Goff. Among many hats, Ms. Goff is the Budget Officer for the Town who has consistently received the Government Finance Officers Association prestigious award for budget presentation. Thank you, Melissa. Assistant Town Administrator Austin Faison effectively supports Melissa and me with many budget responsibilities and special projects. As Assistant to the Town Administrator, Stephanie Orsini has provided exceptional management and coordination for the multitude of responsibilities in the Town Administrator’s and Select Board’s office. She has also helped to enhance the Town’s communication strategy. In addition to Ms. Orsini, I am ably assisted by Kate MacGillivray and Brenda Costello. In December, Ms. Costello retired after a lengthy and effective career in the Town of Brookline. Over the last several years. Brenda served as the coordinator of all licenses and permits issued by the Select Board. I will miss Ms. Costello’s positive attitude and energy.

Finally, I thank Select Board chair Neil Wishinsky and the entire Select Board for their leadership, support and policy guidance during these challenging times. Select Board member Nancy Daly left the Board in April after four consecutive terms of office. I will always be appreciative to Nancy for her active and spirited leadership and her support for the Town’s management team.

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Town Moderator Edward (Sandy) Gadsby

This was a busy year for Town Meeting in its role as the Town legislature, primarily due to the difficult school facility issues facing the Town. The role of Town Meeting regarding these issues is fundamental. Although such issues as site selection are the province of the Select Board and School Committee, Town Meeting plays a major role in determining the application of planning funds and, of course, providing the financial decisions necessary to meet issues resulting from expanded enrollment in our public schools. This role played out during both of the 2017 Town Meetings and provided a major focus for discussion among and action by Town Meeting Members. Here are the highlights of those meetings.

As always, the principal business of the Annual Town Meeting in May consisted of the adoption of the FY 2017-18 budget, which this year amounted to $272 million. As part of the budget debate, the issue of the location of a potential ninth elementary school arose during a heated debate about the appropriation of feasibility study funding for this project. On a less controversial subject, Town Meeting approved preliminary design funding for the expansion of the High School facilities. We also dealt for the first time with the issue of the sale of recreational marijuana within the Town, by establishing a moratorium to provide time to cope with this controversial subject, which will be before us at the 2018 Annual Meeting. In other important business, Town Meeting gave overwhelming approval to the lowering of vehicular speed limits throughout the Town.

We continued to deal with school system issues at the Fall Town Meeting. In particular, Town Meeting revisited the Annual Meeting appropriation for site evaluation and feasibility funds for a ninth elementary school, a discussion in which the location issue was fiercely debated. Town Meeting continued its support for High School expansion by overwhelmingly approving the funding for the acquisition of the property at 111 Cypress Street. In other business, Town Meeting voted to remove gender from the terminology used in Town by-laws and documents to refer to the Select Board, to petition the legislature for an increase in the number of liquor licenses within the Town, and to support the replacement of Columbus Day with celebrations of indigenous people to the extent that the Town has a say in that matter.

By far the dominant issue at the Fall Town Meeting, however, was a complex and controversial plan that the Select Board had worked out with the Hancock Village developer for the expansion of that development. Although this plan was supported by a significant majority of Town Meeting Members, this support failed to reach the required two-thirds level, as Town Meeting gave deference to the unanimous opposition of the Precinct 15 TMMs. The opponents apparently believed that the Select Board compromise did not take adequate advantage of the leverage that the Town allegedly had in this situation. Many TMMs viewed this as a huge missed opportunity for a settlement that would provide substantial benefits for the Town, and subsequent events have tended to bear out their position.

The institution of Town Meeting remains quite strong here. Not so much in some other municipalities. To the surprise of many of us, the Town of Amherst, which many tend to liken to Brookline, recently voted to convert to a city form of government. It is my belief that the main reason this will not happen here in the foreseeable future is that our Town Meeting manages to conduct its business in no more than three evenings (as opposed to ten or so in Amherst) notwithstanding the difficult and controversial issues before us. I take at least a little credit for this, since I am able to organize Town Meeting in a manner that I believe optimizes efficient use of our time without undermining the democratic process that is such an important element in this institution.

I extend the gratitude of all of us to the principal committees that I appoint, the Committee on Town Organization and Structure and the Advisory Committee, and to their able chairpersons, Jean Berg and Sean Lynn-Jones. The Advisory Committee members expend considerable time and effort in making our Town Meeting process comprehensible and effective, for which it deserves special recognition.

2017 Annual Report

Advisory Committee Sean M. Lynn-Jones, Chair

Organization and Function

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 39, Section 16 states that “every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions....”

The Brookline Advisory Committee, in accordance with Town by-laws, consists of not fewer than 20 nor more than 30 established registered voters of the Town, all appointed by the Town Moderator. At least one elected Town Meeting Member is appointed from each of the sixteen precincts, plus up to eight additional Town Meeting members and up to six members-at-large.

The Advisory Committee functions not only as a Finance Committee, but as an informed citizens’ group that counsels the Town through its recommendations to Town Meeting. It consists of dedicated Brookline residents who are committed to the Town’s fiscal health and good governance. The Advisory Committee’s subcommittees hold public hearings on matters contained in the Warrant for each Town Meeting, and the Committee then votes to make recommendations to Town Meeting. These recommendations are published in the Combined Reports, which are mailed to all Town Meeting Members in advance of Town Meeting and posted on the Town website, and delivered in spoken comments at Town Meeting itself. Throughout the fiscal year, the Advisory Committee exercises its authority to honor or dismiss departmental requests for transfers from the Reserve Fund, which is established to deal with unforeseen or emergency expenditures.

Advisory Committee Subcommittees

The Chair of the Advisory Committee appoints each member to serve on one or more subcommittees and selects a member from each subcommittee to serve as its Chair. There were eight subcommittees in 2017: Administration and Finance; Capital; Human Services; Personnel; Planning and Regulation; Public Safety; Schools; and Long-Term Planning and Policies. The Subcommittee on Long-Term Planning and Policies is the newest. It was established to consider long-term fiscal challenges facing the Town. This subcommittee is also intended to be a forum for reviewing any of the fiscal policies that are followed by the Town and for discussing the Advisory Committee’s own policies and practices. In 2017, it began to consider the need for an operating budget override and recommended that the Select Board appoint an override study committee.

Issues in 2017

During the past year, the Advisory Committee met regularly to prepare its recommendations for the May Annual Town Meeting and the November Special Town Meeting. Its subcommittees met scores of times to hold public hearings, which enabled supporters and opponents of various proposals to express their views. Subcommittees—particularly the Capital Subcommittee—also made on-site visits to assess special projects throughout Brookline. As a result, the subcommittees’ reports to the full Advisory Committee allowed the Committee to consider public opinion and pertinent information in its discussions and decision-making process.

The Advisory Committee spent almost three months reviewing the FY2018 operating budget, from mid-February through mid-May, the Committee met twice a week or more to discuss recommendations based on information that subcommittees had collected. After analyzing this information, the Committee prepared and submitted to Town Meeting detailed FY2018 budget recommendations for both the operating budget and the Capital Improvements Program.

In preparation for the November and May Town Meetings, the Advisory Committee, through its subcommittees, also conducted public hearings on every Warrant Article and gathered facts and public comments on many important issues, including the various studies of the proposed expansion of Brookline High School and proposals for adding K-8 classroom capacity, including but not limited to construction of a 9th elementary school, the proposed Hancock Village

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Overlay District and Hancock Village Master Development Agreement, efforts to increase use of gender-neutral language in Town by-laws, a by-law amendment requiring the posting of documents associated with public meetings, an amendment to the Town’s Zoning By-Law to authorize administrative approval of certain signs and awnings, and an amendment to the Town’s General By-Laws that limited the issuance of tobacco sales permits. After the hearings and a discussion by the full Advisory Committee, comprehensive reports were presented to Town Meeting.

In addition to serving on the Advisory Committee and its subcommittees, members of the Committee participated on many committees appointed by the Select Board, the Moderator, and others, including the Devotion School Building Committee, the Coolidge Corner Study Committee, the Override Study Committee, the Cypress Acquisition Committee, the Building Committee for the Brookline High School Expansion Project, the Select Board’s Committee on Senior Tax Policy, the Building Committee for the 9th Elementary School at Baldwin, the Select Board’s Committee for Animal Control Training for Police, the Kent/Station Street Affordable Senior Housing Committee, Open Space Planning Committee, and the Tobacco Control Committee.

Members also served on many standing Town committees, commissions, and boards, including the Commission for the Arts, Economic Development Advisory Board, Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, Licensing Review Committee, CDBG Advisory Committee, Zoning By-Law Review Committee, Town/School Partnership, Hubway Advisory Committee, Naming Committee, Climate Action Committee, and Audit Committee.

Membership

During the past year, Sean Lynn-Jones continued to serve as Chair of the Advisory Committee, a position he was initially elected to on March 17, 2015. Carla Benka was re-elected to serve as Vice Chair.

The Advisory Committee will continue working diligently on behalf of Town Meeting to carefully consider all matters related to the finances and governance of the Town. It will strive to make recommendations that it considers to be in the best interest of the Town and all of its residents.

Advisory Committee Members

2017 Annual Report

TOWN MEETING

Summary of Actions Taken Annual Town Meeting May 23, 2017

ARTICLE ONE ARTICLE EIGHT

Appointment of Measurers of Wood and Bark. (Select Authorization under M.G.L. c. 44, s. 20 to apply bond Board) A motion of Favorable Action, that the number premiums (less cost of issuance) to project costs and of Measurers of Wood and bark be two to be appointed reduce the amount authorized by said reduction. by the Select Board, was passed by a Unanimous Vote. (Select Board) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. ARTICLE TWO ARTICLE NINE Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreements. (Human Resources) A motion of Favorable Action to Annual (FY18) Appropriations Article. (Advisory approve and fund the Collective Bargaining Committee) A motion of Favorable Action to approve Agreements for AFSCME Council 93, Local 1358 AFL- the FY32018 budget with totaled appropriated CIO, School Traffic Supervisors, and Teamsters Local expenditures of $264,597,609 was passed, as 25, Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers, amended and separately voted, by a Unanimous Vote. were passed by a Unanimous Vote. ARTICLE TEN ARTICLE THREE Amend Article 2.1, Section 2.1.5 (B) of the Town’s Annual Authorization of Compensating Balance General By-Laws pertaining to the distribution of Agreements. (Treasurer/Collector) A motion of articles in the Warrant for Town Meeting. (Select Favorable Action to authorize the Treasurer, with the Board) A motion to refer to the Select Board was approval of the Select Boarfd, to enter into passed by an Electronic Recorded Vote of 173 In compensating balance agreements for FY2018, was Favor, 36 Opposed, and 3 Abstentions. passed by a Unanimous Vote. ARTICLE TWELVE ARTICLE FOUR Deletion of Article 3.1, Section 3.1.7 of the Town’s Report on the Close-out of Special General By-Laws and adoption of a new Article 4.9 of Appropriations/Bond Authorization Rescission. (Select the Town’s General By-Laws – Election Campaigns. Board) No Action was taken. (Petition of Neil Gordon, TMM1) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Counted Vote of 192 In Favor ARTICLE FIVE and 4 Opposed.

Approval of Unpaid Bills of a Prior Fiscal Year. (Select ARTICLE THIRTEEN Board) No Action was taken. Unanimous Vote. Amend Article 8.23, Section 8.23.5 of the Town’s ARTICLE SIX General By-Laws - Limiting the Issuance of Tobacco Sales Permits. (Tobacco Control Committee) A motion Acceptance of Legislation to Increase Property Tax of Favorable Action was passed by a Majority Vote. Exemptions. (Assessors) A motion of Favorable Action to establish an additional property tax exemption for FY ARTICLE FOURTEEN 2018, was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Amend Section 2.18 of the Town’s Zoning By-Law – ARTICLE SEVEN adding Recreational Marijuana Establishment, and amend Section 4.07 of the Town’s Zoning By-law – FY2017 Budget Amendments (Select Board) A motion Table of Use Regulations - to establish a moratorium of Favorable Action to amend the n FY2017 budget was on recreational marijuana establishments and related passed by a Unanimous Vote. uses. (Planning and Community Development) A

23 www.brooklinema.gov motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Two- Thirds Vote. ARTICLE TWENTY

ARTICLE FIFTEEN Resolution Committing Brookline to Uphold and Adhere to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. (John Amendment to Section 7.08 of the Town’s Zoning By- Harris and Richard Rosen) A motion of Favorable Law - Signs, Illumination, & Regulated Façade Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Alterations - to authorize administrative approval of certain signs and awnings. (Planning and Community ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE Development) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Resolution Regarding a Net Zero Energy Ninth Elementary School and the expansion of Brookline ARTICLE SIXTEEN High School. (Werner Lohe, Alan Christ, and Kathleen Scanlon) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by Authorize a 20-year lease of the Runkle School rooftop an Electronic Recorded Vote of 183 In Favor, 0 to host a Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Installation. Opposed, and 6 Abstentions. (Select Board) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN Resolution to Support the Town of Brookline’s participation in the Government Alliance On Race and Acceptance of a permanent easement for pedestrian Equity (GARE). (Stephen Vogel, Abigail Ortiz and Anne passage over land located at 1180 Boylston Street. Greenwald) A motion of Favorable Action was passed (DPW Commissioner) A motion of Favorable Action by a Unanimous Vote. was passed by a Unanimous Vote with 1 Abstention.

ARTICLE EIGHTEEN ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE

Accept the provisions of General Laws Chapter 90, Resolution in support of a local option gasoline tax. Section 17C—to establish speed limits of 25 miles per (Lily Bermel) It was resolved that Brookline Town hour for thickly settled or business districts. Meeting supports passage of S.15512 – “An Act (Transportation Board) A motion of Favorable Action Relevant to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives, was passed by an Electronic Recorded Vote of 176 In and the use of any and all incremental Brookline Favor, 18 Opposed, with 4 Abstentions. revenue associated with the act to fund additional pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transit infrastructure, by an Electronic Recorded Vote of 175 In Favor, 26 ARTICLE NINETEEN Opposed and 11 Abstentions.

Accept the provisions of General Laws Chapter 90, ARTICLE TWENTY-FOUR Section 18B—to establish speed limits of 20 miles per hour for safety zones. (Transportation Board) A motion Reports of Town Officers and Committees. (Select of Favorable Action was passed by an Electronic Board) Reports from the Select Board’s Climate Action Recorded Vote of 159 In Favor, 28 Opposed, and 6 Committee, and the Select Board’s Committee on the Abstentions. Feasibility and Applicability of Tree Ordinance in Brookline, were submitted.

2017 Annual Report

Summary of Actions Taken Special Town Meeting May 23, 2017 8:00 P.M.

ARTICLE ONE

Resolution in Support of Congressional Investigation regarding the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump (Lisa Kolarik, Alexandra Borns-Weil) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by an Electronic Recorded Vote of 158 In Favor, 2 Opposed and 13 Abstentions.

Summary of Actions Taken Special Town Meeting May 23, 2017 8:30 P.M.

ARTICLE ONE

FY2018 Special Appropriation for Brookline High School Expansion Project (Select Board) A motion of Favorable Action to appropriate $1,850,000 for phase two of the feasibility and schematic design related to the off-site expansion of Brookline High School, was passed by a Counted Vote of 216 In Favor and 1 Opposed.

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Summary of Actions Taken Special Town Meeting November 14, 2017

ARTICLE ONE ARTICLE EIGHT

Approval of unpaid bills - (Select Board). A motion of Accept the provisions of Chapter 60 Section 3D of the No Action was passed by a Majority Vote. Massachusetts General Laws authorizing voluntary tax bill relief donations. (Select Board’s Committee on ARTICLE TWO Senior Tax Policy) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Approval of collective bargaining agreements - (Human Resources Director). A motion of No Action was ARTICLE NINE passed by a Majority Vote. Legislation authorizing the Select Board to grant ARTICLE THREE additional liquor licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages. (Select Board) A motion of Favorable FY2018 Budget Amendments (Select Board). A motion Action was passed by a Majority Vote. of Favorable Action for various amendments to the FY2018 Budget, was passed by a Counted Vote of 214 ARTICLE TEN In Favor and 1 Opposed. Amend the Zoning By-law to establish a Hancock ARTICLE FOUR Village Overlay District (HVOD). (Select Board) A motion of Favorable Action, failing to achieve the Authorize the Select Board to acquire real property at required two-thirds vote, was Defeated by an Electronic 111 Cypress Street by purchase or eminent domain, Recorded Vote of 112 In Favor, 85 Opposed, and 7 and appropriate funds for such purpose. (Select Board) Abstentions. A motion of Favorable Action to acquire the property at 111 Cypress Street and to appropriate $16,400,000 to ARTICLE ELEVEN pay the costs for acquiring said property, was passed by a Counted Vote of 212 In Favor,12 Opposed, and 2 Authorize the Select Board to execute a Hancock Abstentions. Village Master Development Agreement (Select Board) No Action was taken. Refer to Article Ten vote. ARTICLE FIVE ARTICLE TWELVE Release or re-appropriation of May 2017 Baldwin School Special Appropriation. (Select Board) A motion Authorize the Select Board to execute a Hancock of No Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Village Local Action Unit (LAU) Development Agreement. (Select Board) No Action was taken. Refer ARTICLE SIX to Article Ten vote.

Legislation to increase qualifying income limits for ARTICLE THIRTEEN senior real estate tax deferrals (Select Board’s Committee on Senior Tax Policy) A motion of Authorize the Select Board to accept and enforce a Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote, Hancock Village Deed restriction. (Select Board) No Action was taken. Refer to Article Ten vote.

ARTICLE SEVEN ARTICLE FOURTEEN Authorize interest rate reduction on real property tax deferrals for qualifying seniors. (Select Board’s Authorize the Select Board to acquire certain real Committee on Senior Tax Policy) A motion of property at Hancock Village by gift or deed. (Select Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote. Board) No Action was taken. Refer to Article Ten vote.

2017 Annual Report

ARTICLE FIFTEEN ARTICLE TWENTY

Repeal of the Hancock Village Neighborhood Resolution to establish Indigenous peoples Day in Conservation District By-law. (Select Board) A motion Brookline (Connors, TMM3, van der Ziel, TMM15, of No Action was passed by a Majority Vote. Halsey, Samaraweera) A motion of Favorable Action was passed by an Electronic Recorded Vote of 168 In ARTICLE SIXTEEN Favor, 14 Opposed, and 23 Abstentions.

By-law amendment requiring the posting of documents ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE associated with public meetings. (Gordon, TMM1) A motion to refer to the Select Board and to report back Resolution to honor former Brookline resident John to the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, was passed by a Wilson (Daves, TMM5, Vitolo, TMM6) A motion of Counted Vote of 160 In Favor, and 3 Opposed. Favorable Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote.

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO Establish a Tree Preservation By-law. (Murphy) No Action was taken. Resolution on Sentencing Reform and Diversion. (Gordon, TMM1) A motion of Favorable Action, as ARTICLE EIGHTEEN substituted, was passed by a Counted Vote of 180 In Favor and 8 Opposed. Replace “Select Board” with “Selectwoman” in Zoning and General By-law references. (Burstein TMM12) A motion of Favorable Action to use the terms Select ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE Board and Select Board Member, was passed by a Majority Vote. Reports of Town Officers and Committees (Select Board) Reports from the Moderator’s Committee on the ARTICLE NINETEEN Posting of Police Reports, the Select Board’s Committee on Senior Tax Policy, and the Select Replace gender-specific language in Town By-laws Board’s Committee of the Feasibility and Applicability and records with gender neutral language. (Coleman) of Tree Ordinance in Brookline, were submitted. It was resolved to use the terms Select Board and Select Board Member and to strive to use gender neutral language where appropriate and practicable, by a Majority Vote.

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Summary of Actions Taken Special Town Meeting November 14, 2017 7:30 P.M.

ARTICLE ONE

Release or re-appropriation of May 2017 Baldwin School Special Appropriation. (Mariah Nobrega, Dan Saltzman, Lauren Bernard) A motion of No Action, to appropriate $1,000,000 for further feasibility studies, including a multi-site solution, was passed by a Counted Vote of 208 In Favor and 2 Opposed.

Summary of Actions Taken Special Town Meeting November 14, 2017 8:00 P.M.

ARTICLE ONE

Revisions of the Hancock Village Neighborhood Conservation District By-law. (Select Board). A motion of No Action was passed by a Unanimous Vote.

2017 Annual Report

2017 ATTENDANCE Precinct Name Eligible Attended Precinct Name Eligible Attended 16 Allaire, Saralyn J. 5 5 06 Englander, Scott L. 5 5 05 Allen, Richard E. 5 5 01 Ercolino, Elijah 5 5 10 Alperin, Michael 5 5 04 Farlow, Martha A. 5 5 10 Ananian, Clifford Scott 5 5 01 Feingold, Joel A. 5 5 06 Anderson, Catherine C. 5 3 09 Fernandez, Raul A. 5 5 02 Anttonen, Jennifer Tamara 5 5 13 Fine, Jonathan S. 5 5 03 Aronson, David M. 5 5 13 Fischer, Andrew 5 5 13 Aschkenasy, Miriam T. 5 5 11 Fischer, Shira H. 5 4 04 Axelrod, Sarah T. 5 5 14 Fishman, Daniel Reuven 5 5 13 Baker, Joanna 5 5 14 Fishman, Gill 5 0 06 Bassett, John 5 5 15 Flanagan, Jane M. 5 5 03 Becker, Kathryn M 5 5 AL Franco, Benjamin J. 5 5 09 Bellis-Kates, Elizabeth Susan 5 5 01 Franco, James F. 5 5 11 Benedon, Carrie 5 5 16 Frawley, Regina M. 5 5 13 Benka, Carla Wyman 5 4 13 Freeman, John W. 5 5 15 Berger, Eileen Connell 5 1 07 Frey, Ernest A. 5 5 06 Bergstein, Brian A. 5 5 12 Friedman, Harry K. 5 5 08 Bernard, Laura Sara 5 5 04 Frumkin, Peter 5 5 04 Boehs, Sarah T. 5 5 AL Gadsby, Edward N., Jr. 5 5 03 Bohrs, Harry K. 5 5 16 Gallitano, Thomas J. 5 5 08 Bolon, Craig 5 5 04 Gerdts, Nadine 5 3 16 Bowman, Adrienne S. 5 5 07 Giller, Phyllis D. 5 4 09 Brooks, Liza 5 5 03 Gilman. Jane C. 5 5 14 Brown, Clifford M. 5 5 11 Giora-Gorfajn, Shanna Tally 5 4 12 Bruce, Stphanie A. 5 5 04 Givens, Koinonia M. 5 5 12 Burstein, Michael A. 5 5 16 Gladstone, Scott C. 5 5 10 Caro, Carol B. 5 5 11 Goldsmith, Jennifer 5 3 10 Caro, Francis G. 5 5 08 Goldstein, David-Marc 5 5 01 Cavell, Cathleen C. 5 5 14 Goldstein, Kenneth M. 5 5 13 Chanyasulkit, Chris 5 5 01 Gordon, Neil R. 5 5 16 Chiumenti, Stephen 5 5 12 Grand, Jonathan H. 5 5 04 Christ, Alan 5 5 07 Granoff, Susan 5 5 15 Coffin, Abby R. 5 2 07 Gray, Mark A. 5 5 07 Cohen, Susan F. 5 5 11 Gray, Martha E. 5 5 03 Connors, Patricia A. 5 5 AL Greene, Bernard W. 5 5 06 Conquest III, Arthur Wellington 5 5 12 Greenfield, Stefanie A. 5 4 12 Cooke-Childs, Lee 5 5 05 Gunnuscio, Michael B. 5 5 08 Cox, Abigail Schoenbaum 5 5 15 Hall, John L. 5 4 08 Crandell, Gina 5 4 15 Hallowell, Benedicte J. 5 2 01 Cutler, Jonathan D. 5 5 AL Hamilton, Heather Ann 5 5 12 Daly, Nancy A. 5 5 07 Hardebeck, Kelly A. 5 3 05 Daves, Robert S. 5 5 08 Harris, John 5 5 10 Davis, Jonathan H. 5 5 09 Harris, Paul E. 5 5 10 Davis, Linda M. 5 5 12 Hatchett, Casey A. 5 5 10 Deak, Holly L. 5 4 AL Heller, Nancy S. 5 5 06 Dempsey, Christopher 5 5 02 Hellerstein, Benjamin 5 3 03 Dewart, Mary D. 5 4 01 Herman, Helen Y. 5 5 03 Dewart, Murray 5 4 01 Hillman, Carol B. 5 4 05 DeWitt, Betsy 5 5 09 Hinchey, Nathaniel J. 5 3 13 Doggett, John 5 5 06 Hochleutner, Brian 5 5 03 Doughty, Dennis L. 5 5 13 Hoy, Francis Charlton 5 5 07 Duclos, Keith A. 5 5 12 Hummel, Amy 5 5 12 Ellis, Chad S. 5 0 06 Humphrey, Systke V. 5 5 07 Ellis, Susan P. 5 5 05 Hyatt, Angela 5 5

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2017 ATTENDANCE Precinct Name Eligible Attended Precinct Name Eligible Attended 16 Jette, Julie A. 5 5 15 Nangle, Richard 5 5 08 Johnson, Anita L. 5 5 05 Naro, Anthony J. 5 5 04 Johnson, Yvette M. 5 5 01 Neuefeind, Bettina 5 2 16 Jonas, Alisa G. 5 3 04 Nobrega, Mariah C. 5 5 11 Jones-Dasent, Boney 5 5 02 O'Brien, Barbara A. 5 2 09 Jozwicki, Barr A. 5 5 14 O'Connell, Kathleen M. 5 5 09 Jozwicki, Joyce 5 4 05 O'Leary, Phyllis R. 5 4 15 Kahn, Janice S. 5 5 05 Olins, Andrew M. 5 5 13 Kaplan, Ruth L. 5 4 04 Ortiz, Jaymmy Colon 5 0 12 Karon, Jonathan A. 5 5 07 Pantalone. David K. 5 5 09 Katz, Pamela C. 5 4 15 Pearlman, David Arenas 5 5 02 Kidd, Judith H. 5 4 02 Pehlke, Linda Olson 5 5 12 Klafter, David B. 5 5 02 Piercy, Jane A. 5 5 10 Knable, Bobbie M. 5 5 11 Pollak, Davidd M. 5 5 15 Knauf, Kristine L. 5 5 08 Poverman, Kate 5 4 03 Koff, Laurence Kragen 5 4 07 Provost, Stacey Zelbow 5 5 15 Krepchin, Ira P. 5 5 16 Pu, William 5 4 14 Kushner, Jeffrey Robert 5 4 05 Reyelt, William E. 5 5 10 La, Daniel 5 2 14 Rich, Benjamin E. 5 3 06 LaPlante, Virginia W. 5 5 06 Richmond, Clinton Q. 5 5 16 Leichtner, Judith 5 5 02 Roberts, Susan M. 5 5 03 Leka, Donald Gene 5 5 14 Roseman, Lynda E. 5 5 09 Lepson, Robert D. 5 5 09 Rosenstein, Harriet 5 4 11 Lescohier, David C. 5 5 09 Rosenthal, Martin R. 5 5 03 Levine, Meggan E. 5 5 15 Rourke, James C., Jr. 5 3 14 Levitan, Fred 5 5 15 Sadeghi-Nejad, Ab 5 5 07 Levy, Mark E. 5 4 16 Safer, Joshua D. 5 5 11 Lewis, Kenneth G. 5 5 06 Saltzman, Daniel G. 5 5 15 Liao, Robert 5 5 03 Sandman, Michael A. 5 5 10 Lipson, Paul 5 4 13 Saner, Paul A. 5 4 14 Lipson, Roger R. 5 5 03 Scanlon, Kathleen M. 5 5 02 Liss, Lisa 5 5 02 Schachter-Kahl, Livia 5 5 14 Lodish, Pamela C. 5 5 16 Scharf, Irene 5 5 08 Loechler, Edward L. 5 5 14 Schoffman, Sharon R. 5 5 13 Lohe, Werner 5 5 10 Scholnick, Theodore 5 5 11 Lowe, David J. 5 5 01 Schram, Robert L. 5 5 12 Lowenstein, Mark J. 5 5 08 Scotto, Barbara C. 5 5 01 Lynn-Jones, Sean M. 5 5 08 Sears, Lisamarie J. 5 2 05 Machmuller, Wendy S. 5 5 14 Segel, Jennifer E. 5 5 08 Margolis, Hadassah Michal 5 5 13 Selwyn, Lee L. 5 3 07 Margolis, Jonathan J. 5 5 13 Senecal, Barbara M. 5 5 05 Mattison, Hugh 5 5 04 Shaw, Jeremy Michael 5 3 11 Mautner, Rebecca Plaut 5 4 11 Sheehan, Brian D. 5 5 11 McClelland, A. Nicole 5 5 07 Shon-Baker, Rita 5 5 02 McNally, Rita K. 5 4 16 Shpritz, Nathan I. 5 5 05 Meiklejohn, Douglas Randolph 5 5 02 Shreffler, John R. 5 5 06 Merelice, M K 3 0 10 Shuman, Stanley 5 3 01 Metral, Alexandra E. 5 5 04 Siegal, Marjorie 5 5 12 Meyers, Judy 5 5 01 Silbaugh, Kate 5 5 05 Michaels, Faith I. 5 3 14 Silberberg, Isaac 5 5 08 Miller, Robert M. 5 5 07 Slayton, James M. 5 3 14 Mittel, Shaari S. 5 5 01 Sloane, Robert 5 3 11 Moran, Maryellen 5 0 12 Slotnick, William E. 5 2 04 Mulhane, John T. 5 5 06 Smith, Kim 5 5 15 Murphy, Robert W. 5 2 04 Smith, Virginia A. 5 5

2017 Annual Report

2017 ATTENDANCE Precinct Name Eligible Attended Precinct Name Eligible Attended AL Smizik, Hon. Frank Israel 5 5 06 Sneider, Ruthann 5 5 02 Spiegel, Diana Lees 5 4 02 Spiegel, Stanley L. 5 4 10 Spingarn, Alexandra (Sandy) 5 4 05 Stampfer, Claire B. 5 5 03 Steinfield, Frank R. 5 5 02 Studdard, Caitlin M. 5 5 16 Sullivan, Timothy C. 5 4 09 Swartz, Charles 5 2 10 Sweitzer, Naomi 5 5 01 Terrell, Charles 5 5 16 Thall, Carolyn Rose 5 5 08 Toomey, Maura 5 5 06 Trecker, Anne 2 2 09 Tyndal, Dwaign 5 3 15 van der Ziel, Cornelia H. J. 5 5 09 Vanderkay, Judith A. 5 5 13 VanScoyoc, John R. 5 5 06 Vitolo, Thomas John 5 5 04 Volk, Robert 5 5 07 Wapinski, Ilan 5 5 AL Ward, Patrick J. 5 5 08 Weitzman, Donald C. 5 5 09 White, George Abbott 5 5 10 Wilson, Rachel Irene 5 5 AL Wishinsky, Neil A. 5 5 02 Wolff, Bruce 5 5 05 Wurster, Erik F. 5 5

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RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN 2017

1. A Resolution Regarding the Paris Climate Agreement

WHEREAS the Paris Agreement1 is now in force under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United States of America is an official Party to the Paris Agreement as of 2016; 2

WHEREAS climate change has already imposed economic and ecological hardships on various people across the world and it poses ever-increasing hardships on the peoples of the world in the future, including the loss of livelihood and possible death;

WHEREAS the Paris Agreement states “the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge;”

WHEREAS the Paris Agreement states “the importance of education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and cooperation at all levels on the matters addressed in this Agreement;”4

WHEREAS the UNFCCC has established a NON-STATE ACTOR ZONE for Climate Action, which provides a process that states, municipalities and other entities can use as “a platform for the exchange of experiences and sharing of best practices on mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and integrated manner”;6

WHEREAS as of April 2017, at least 2,508 cities, towns, and communities worldwide have registered their support for the Paris Agreement on the Non-State Zone platform. This includes American cities as diverse as Anchorage, Baltimore, Berkeley, Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Sacramento and Savannah; and locally Boston, Cambridge, Medford and Somerville;7

WHEREAS each country signing the Paris Climate Agreement (UNFCCC) sets its own aspirational climate goals, which encourages each Non-State Actor to do the same, to be evaluated every 5 years;8 The Town of Brookline should set its own aspirational climate action goals for recurring evaluation;

WHEREAS, as a town of diverse and well-educated and informed citizens, Brookline is able to play a leading role relative to other cities and towns within Massachusetts and the U.S. in both mitigating and adapting to climate change;

WHEREAS the Paris Agreement requires that all parties should pursue efforts to help keep the global increase in average temperature due to human-caused climate change to no more than 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5 degrees Celsius if possible;9

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Brookline: 1. Understands it to be a moral and political obligation of the Town to commit to pursue upholding and adhering to the Paris Agreement of 2015. 2. Commits to register its support for implementing the Paris Agreement on the Non-State Zone platform, as other U.S. cities and towns have done. 3. Commits to file its existing 2012 Climate Action Plan as amended in 2015,10 which was intended to meet the objectives of the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, on the Non-State Platform, as other U.S cities and towns have done. 4. Commits to a goal of developing a revised town plan during 2018 to mitigate and adapt to human-caused climate change that may take a leading role above and beyond those plans of the State of Massachusetts and the “nationally determined contribution”11 of the U.S. government, in order to help insure that those state and federal plans are achieved faster and more thoroughly due to Brookline’s actions. 5. Continue educating the citizens of Brookline about the dangers that climate change pose in both the short and long run to the world, in general, and to Massachusetts in particular. This enhanced education will, presumably, facilitate and accelerate both the voluntary and mandatory actions that the citizens of Brookline will take to help slow the rate of climate change.

2017 Annual Report

2. A Resolution Regarding a Net Zero Energy Ninth Elementary School and the Expansion of Brookline High School

WHEREAS our town, the nation, and the world are increasingly aware of the need to address climate change and of the importance of better protection of the environment in general, and

WHEREAS an international standard known as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design of the United States Green Building Council) allows for a building’s environmental and energy performance to be accurately measured and provides a benchmark to assist in designing a net zero energy building, and

WHEREAS net zero energy LEED Platinum schools create an environment that supports student learning and health through improvements in daylighting, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, and classroom design, all of which have an impact on a child’s ability to learn and a teacher’s ability to teach, while saving energy, resources, and money, and

WHEREAS net zero energy LEED Platinum schools increase energy efficiency, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cost less to operate, utilize durable materials, reduce water and energy use, and provide other benefits, while providing an educational experience that transcends the classroom by creating opportunities for curriculum innovation and hands-on, project-based learning in which the building itself becomes an interactive teaching tool, and

WHEREAS decisions made now about the design of the Ninth Elementary School and the expansion of Brookline High School will determine each school’s environmental footprint, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, for decades to come, and

WHEREAS the technical ability to create energy-efficient, high performing buildings has increased significantly by incorporating systems thinking into design processes, and

WHEREAS construction of new schools in Massachusetts and around the nation during the past five years has shown the feasibility and desirability of net zero energy schools, that is, schools in which the amount of energy delivered on an annual basis is less than or equal to the amount of renewable energy exported from the site, and

WHEREAS the most accurate measure of energy efficiency for a building is EUI (Energy Use Intensity), calculated by dividing total energy consumed annually by the gross floor area of the building,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT in order for the Ninth Elementary School to be a significant advance toward a net zero energy school and consistent with the projected energy efficiency results at the new Devotion School, it shall seek a minimum of LEED v4 certification at the Silver rating level, with a goal of achieving the Platinum rating level; and in addition it shall prioritize achieving points in the Optimize Energy Performance category and shall seek to achieve a minimum of 13 of the possible 16 points available in that category, with the goal of achieving 16 of the possible 16 points available in that category; and, finally, it shall seek to achieve at least an EUI of 30 kBTU/sq. ft./yr., with the goal of achieving an EUI of 25 kBTU/sq. ft./yr.,

And, be it further Resolved that while overall net zero energy is unlikely to be achieved for Brookline High School and even the degree to which the as-of-yet-undefined, expanded portion of the school can approach net zero energy design is currently uncertain, nevertheless, net zero energy principles shall be appropriately applied, to the extent feasible, during all design phases of Brookline High School.

3. A Resolution to Support the Town of Brookline to Participate in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)

WHEREAS, the Town of Brookline, Massachusetts (the Town) has a proclaimed public policy to improve diversity, inclusion, and community relations within its territory; and

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WHEREAS, the Town has in its General By-laws many parts of the framework for achieving racial justice; and

WHEREAS, those are found in the goals of diversity and inclusion in the Town’s General By-laws pertaining to the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations (ODICR) and the Commission for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations (CDICR), including in the powers, duties, responsibilities, and authorizations given to CDICR and ODICR, along with the requirement that that all departments and agencies of the Town cooperate, share information and have a dialogue with CDICR and ODICR on relevant matters; and

WHEREAS, those powers, duties, responsibilities, and authorizations and requirements are found in Articles 3.14, 3.15, 5.5, and 10.2 of the Town’s General By-laws, as most recently amended, along with the Equal Employment Opportunity policy promulgated by the Human Relations Department, and approved by CDICR September 21, 2016, approved by the Human Resources Board December 13, 2016, and by The Select Board February 7, 2017; and

WHEREAS, the Town is committed to work for racial equity in the Town’s employment practices, business practices, allocation and handling of its services, and in its treatment of all people within its environs; and

WHEREAS, The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of local governments working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunity for all. GARE works with government jurisdictions to assess the impact of public policies and procedures on racial equity and opportunity. The GARE approach is data driven and includes community engagement, setting and evaluating progress toward measurable goals and consultation with all levels of government employees, community members, and decision-makers; and

WHEREAS, in keeping with the above, through the work of the ODICR, the Town of Brookline has become a core member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), a joint project of the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) and the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, which is itself a non-profit organization that catalyzes community, government and other institutions to dismantle structural racial inequity and create equitable outcomes for all; and

WHEREAS, we believe the Town’s goals and policies promoting racial justice will be augmented by maintaining the core membership benefits offered by GARE, and will be enhanced by contracts with the GARE-related Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) to give trainings to designated Town employees and relevant Town Departments, on topics deemed fit by ODICR and CDICR.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, THAT TOWN MEETING URGES:

1. The Select Board and the Town Administrator, in conjunction with the ODICR, to support and facilitate participation by Town departments in the GARE implementation process. This includes but is not limited to using racial equity tools in a data driven process to integrate explicit consideration of racial equity into creating and evaluating Town policies, procedures, and department budgeting. 2. The Select Board, the Town Administrator, the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools to work with the ODICR to identify one or more departments (in addition to the ODICR itself) that will fully engage in GARE’s implementation process during fiscal year 2018. 3. The Town to allocate financial support and other resources to support successful implementation of the GARE implementation process, including enrollment of department administrators and leaders in trainings provided by GARE, and that future budgets consider the funding requirements of this resolution. 4. That the Select Board and the Town Administrator, in conjunction with the ODICR, actively work to develop trust and accountability by seeking input and participation from the community in the GARE implementation process, prioritizing voices of residents of color, and that the Town’s Chief Diversity Officer report on GARE progress in the CDICR monthly meeting and in a comprehensive annual report to the Board of Selectman and Town Meeting.

4. Gas Tax Resolution

2017 Annual Report

WHEREAS, the ability to move around on foot, bike, or with mass transit is an important value to citizens of Brookline;

WHEREAS, the infrastructure that enables pedestrians, bicyclists, and mass transit users can be made safer, more accessible, and more comfortable;

WHEREAS, Brookline is currently committed to the upgrades necessary to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mass transit users but is constrained by available revenue and other important budgetary considerations;

WHEREAS, according to The League of American Bicyclists, Massachusetts has seen more than a one hundred percent growth in the share of those who commute by bike and it is important to accommodate these growing numbers by installing safer biking infrastructure;

WHEREAS, bike lanes in Brookline are expensive, costing up to fifty thousand dollars, and such projects have been funded with the Brookline Capital Improvements program;

WHEREAS, Brookline Town Meeting’s willingness to administer local-option taxes has been demonstrated by its swift implementation of local-option taxes both on meals and room occupancy in the past decade;

WHEREAS, the passage of S.1551 “An Act Relevant to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives” would give Brookline the ability to impose any tax surcharge on a single subject of taxation including a payroll, sales, property, fuel or vehicle excise tax, creating a new local-option tax to fund transportation upgrades;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that

1. Town Meeting supports the passage of S.1551, “An Act Relevant to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives”. A message of Brookline’s support will be sent to the State House sponsors of the Bill, to Brookline’s representatives in the Massachusetts House and Senate, and to relevant committee chairs.

2. That upon passage of “An Act Relevant to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives,” Town Meeting supports the use of any and all incremental Brookline revenue associated with the Act to fund additional pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transportation infrastructure, so that Brookline may become more pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transportation friendly. Funding will be used to supplement, not supplant, funding on current local pedestrian, bicycle, and mass transport infrastructure.

5. Resolution in Support of Congressional Investigation regarding Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump

WHEREAS, the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution provides that “no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them [i.e. the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State,” thereby prohibiting conflicts of interest that could influence the conduct of the foreign affairs of the United States,

WHEREAS, the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution provides that, besides the fixed salary for his four-year term, the President “shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them,” thereby prohibiting conflicts of interest that could influence the conduct of the domestic affairs of the United States,

WHEREAS, the term “emoluments” includes a broad range of financial benefits, including but not limited to monetary payments, purchase of goods and services, subsidies, tax breaks, extensions of credit, and favorable regulatory treatment,

WHEREAS, Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States, owns various business interests and receives various streams of income from all over the world,

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WHEREAS, many of these businesses receive income and benefits from foreign governments, states of the United States, or the United States itself,

WHEREAS, leading constitutional scholars and government ethics experts warned Donald J. Trump shortly after the November 2016 election that, unless he fully divested his businesses and invested the money in conflict-free assets or a blind trust, he would violate the Constitution from the moment he took office,

WHEREAS, on January 11, 2017, nine days before his inauguration, Donald J. Trump announced a plan that would, if carried out, remove him from day-today operations of his businesses, but not eliminate any of the ongoing flow income and benefits from foreign governments, state governments, or the United States government,

WHEREAS, on January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump took the oath of office and became President of the United States,

WHEREAS, evidence suggests that President Trump is in violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause and the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution,

WHEREAS, any such violations would undermine the integrity of the Presidency and violate the public trust,

WHEREAS, our democracy is premised on the bedrock principle that no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States,

NOW, THEREFORE, Brookline Town Meeting RESOLVES to call upon the United States House of Representatives to support a resolution authorizing and directing the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, including but not limited to the violations listed herein; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted officially to the Member of the United States House of Representatives that represents the town, namely, the Honorable Joseph Kennedy III.

6. Resolution for Gender Neutral Language

WHEREAS, the use of gender-neutral language by the Town can be expected to further enhance and demonstrate Brookline’s commitment to being an inclusive, diverse and welcoming community; and

WHEREAS, ever-increasing awareness exists that language matters, and in particular with regard to the subtle and not so subtle, and intended and unintended consequences of language, including implicit or explicit bias; and

WHEREAS, the Town has been a leader in issues relating to gender identity and expression, including in defining the Town’s protected classes; and

WHEREAS, there is ample precedent for and encouragement of the use of gender-neutral language by Massachusetts cities and towns; and

WHEREAS, linguistic conventions that differentiate and identify people by perceived gender may fail to respect the broad spectrum of sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression living, working and visiting our community; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the term “Select Board” shall be taken to mean “Select Board,” the terms “Select Board” and “Selectwomen” shall be taken to mean “Select Board Members,” and the terms “Selectman” and “Selectwoman” shall be taken to mean “Select Board Member,” in all currently active and future documents and communications originated by the Town, unless the context demands otherwise; and

2017 Annual Report

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town, including without limitation, its municipal officers, boards, committees and commissions, strive to use gender-neutral language, where appropriate and practicable, in all documents and communications pertaining to the business of the Town.

7. Resolution to Support the Establishment of Indigenous Peoples Day in Brookline

WHEREAS, Columbus Day has been celebrated unofficially since the early 18th century, and was officially made a federal holiday in 1937 to be celebrated on the second Monday of October, with M.G.L. Part I, Title I, chapter 4, section 7, clause 18 setting aside the second Monday of October as a Massachusetts state holiday, and M.G.L. Part I, Title II, chapter 6, section 12V providing that the Governor declare that day to be Columbus Day; and

WHEREAS, Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas specifically on the Caribbean islands of The Bahamas on October 12, 1492 and, later, on Hispaniola (present-day countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti); and

WHEREAS, the first voyage of Columbus to the Americas initiated the transatlantic slave trade, journal entries from Columbus show his desire to enslave the Indigenous populations of the Caribbean, and he subsequently imprisoned and transported many hundreds of people to this end; and

WHEREAS, Columbus’ second voyage of 1493 was one of conquest, wherein seventeen ships were led by him to the New World, and his governorship of the Caribbean instituted systematic policies of slavery and extermination of Indigenous populations, especially the Taino/Arawak people whose population was reduced from approximately 8 million to 100,000 during Columbus’ reign, being further reduced by the continuation of his policies until near- extinction in 1542; and

WHEREAS, the example of the Taino/Arawak people is merely indicative of the policies of Columbus and his men, and all told some historians estimate that more than 15 million Indigenous persons were exterminated in the Caribbean Basin alone; and

WHEREAS, though the introduction of European diseases may account for some of these deaths, starvation and overt extermination policies were mostly to blame, and thus these atrocities cannot be reasonably attributed to forces outside of the control of European colonialists; and

WHEREAS, the devastation of Indigenous populations would lead to the enslavement of at least 10–12 million African people, and the profound effects of the transatlantic slave trade and African diaspora continue to be felt to the present day; and

WHEREAS, the cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas are worthy of being promoted, their history is rich, diverse, and worthy of celebration, and the actions and policies of European colonizers of the Americas actively destroyed and suppressed parts of those cultures; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since time immemorial; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Brookline, Massachusetts (the “Town”) has a history of opposing racism towards Indigenous Peoples in the United States, this racism serving to perpetuate high rates of Indigenous poverty and leading to inequities in health, education, and housing; and

WHEREAS, the Town wishes to honor our nation's Indigenous roots, history and contributions; and

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WHEREAS, the State of Alaska and other localities including Seattle WA, Cambridge MA, Denver CO, Portland OR, Berkeley CA, and Albuquerque NM have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, to promote Indigenous cultures and commemorate the history of Indigenous Peoples; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, representatives from 120 Indigenous nations at the First Continental Conference on 500 Years of Indian Resistance unanimously passed a resolution to transform Columbus Day into an occasion to strengthen the process of continental unity and struggle towards liberation, and thereby use the occasion to reveal a more accurate historical record; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas have contributed to the world in countless ways, and continue to do so. These contributions are too numerous to set forth here, but include:

 During World War I and II, Choctaw, Cherokee, Navajo and other Indigenous code talkers played a key role in US communications, displaying bravery and intelligence as they sent signals based on their languages that the German and Japanese were unable to decipher. Their actions are credited with saving thousands of US and Allies’ lives.  Agricultural and culinary techniques for tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, maize, cacao, many varieties of beans and much more, including the development of non-edible plants such as cotton, tobacco, and rubber.  Medical advances using plants, such as using Vitamin C-based foods to avoid scurvy, discovering the medical use for quinine, and discovering the medical uses of willow bark (the basis for aspirin).  The Maya of Mexico appear to have been the first to use the zero in mathematics.  Indigenous government systems in North America, particularly that of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy), served as models of federated representative government for the United States, although the US excluded some key components such as the leadership role of women in the Haudenosaunee systems.  Internationally known Indigenous people from the US have included Massasoit, Sacagawea, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Pontiac, Tecumseh, Sealth (Seattle), Wilma Mankiller, Diane Humetewa, Dave Archambault, Winona LaDuke and many more. Olympic athletes have included Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills. Prominent modern Indigenous artists include writers Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie; the prima ballerina Maria Tallchief; actors such as Irene Bedard, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, and Adam Beach; musicians John Trudell, Joanne Shenandoah, Carlos Nakai and Robbie Robertson; and artists Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, RC Gorman and Fritz Scholder.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT TOWN MEETING URGES:

1. The Select Board to establish that the second Monday of October henceforth be commemorated as Indigenous Peoples Day in Brookline, in recognition of the position of Indigenous Peoples as native to these lands, and the suffering they faced during and after the European conquest, 2. The people of Brookline to observe Indigenous Peoples Day by reflecting upon the dispossession of the homelands and villages of the Massachusett people of this region, without which the building of the Town would not have been possible, and to celebrate the survival of Indigenous Peoples against all odds, as well as the thriving cultures and values that Indigenous Peoples have brought and continue to bring to our Town and the wider community,

3. The Select Board to appoint an Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Committee to develop and implement the Town’s commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Day. This Board or its designee shall invite

2017 Annual Report

representation on the Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Committee from Town citizens, schools, non- profit organizations, businesses and its Commission for Diversity, Inclusion & Community Relations as well as the North American Indian Center of Boston, United American Indians of New England, Cultural Survival and IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org, with an emphasis on obtaining as much Indigenous representation as possible, 4. The Select Board or its designee to assist the Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Committee with identifying and obtaining possible funding and resources necessary for the commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Day in the Town, 5. The Public Schools of Brookline to observe this day, with appropriate exercises and instruction in the schools around the time of Indigenous Peoples Day, to the end that the culture, history and diversity of Indigenous Peoples be celebrated and perpetuated, 6. The Select Board to encourage businesses, organizations, and public institutions to recognize and observe Indigenous Peoples Day, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk shall ensure that the Massachusetts Commission of Indian Affairs, North American Indian Center of Boston, IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org, United American Indians of New England, Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council (including the Hassanamisco and Natick), the Assonet Band of Wampanoags, the Chappaquiddick Wampanoags, the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc, the Pocasset Wampanoag, the Ponkapoag, and the Seaconke Wampanoag, all of which include descendants of those people indigenous to Massachusetts, as well as the Brookline School Committee and Brookline TAB, receive a suitably engrossed copy of this Resolution.

8. A Resolution to Honor John Wilson

WHEREAS, John W. Wilson (1922–2015) was a nationally celebrated artist whose work is included in many major museums, and graces several public spaces around the country, including the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol;

WHEREAS, born in Roxbury to recent immigrants from British Guiana (now Guyana), he showed superior artistic talent at an early age and despite racial barriers, he received a scholarship to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, graduating with highest honors;

WHEREAS, he went on to study education at Tufts University graduating in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree, and art in France and Mexico before joining the faculty of Boston University and rising to full professor;

WHEREAS, he studied under the modern artist Fernand Léger in Paris and Karl Zerbe at the Museum School in Boston, and was part of a group that later became known as Boston Expressionists;

WHEREAS, John Wilson and his family, despite initially encountering racial bias finding a home, lived in Brookline for more than 50 years;

WHEREAS, John Wilson’s work embodies the emotion and perspective of life as a black man—a view rarely expressed in mainstream American art at that time;

WHEREAS, John Wilson’s magnificent, monumental bronze sculpture of the head of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1983), installed in Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, Buffalo, New York, evokes the great leader’s inspiration; and

WHEREAS, a 30-inch tall bronze study for that masterpiece recently became available; and

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WHEREAS, a group of engaged Brookline citizens think that it is fitting that, just as our nation’s Capital Rotunda features a work by John Wilson, so too should Town Hall, the center of our local government, have an inspirational sculpture by same artist, an artist who lived his life just a few blocks away.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Town Meeting call upon the people of Brookline to honor the life and legacy of longtime Brookline resident John Wilson;

RESOLVED, that Town Meeting, representing the people of the Town of Brookline, honor John Wilson by supporting the installation of his sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Town Hall lobby; and

RESOLVED, that Town Meeting encourage the School Committee to include the art and story of John Wilson where appropriate in its curriculum.

9. A Resolution Regarding Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform

WHEREAS: Beginning in the 1970’s, the United States experienced a steadily progressing rate of incarceration. With 5% of the world’s population, the US has 25% of the world’s inmates, and many consider mass incarceration the most important civil rights issue of our generation; and

WHEREAS: Massachusetts incarcerates about 20,000 inmates- five times the 1970’s rate, averaging $50,000 per inmate per year (even more for aging inmates), costing in total over $1 billion a year; and

WHEREAS: The Massachusetts incarceration rate is 2.5 times Spain’s, 3 times Canada’s, 5 times Germany’s, and 7 times Japan’s; with only 6 countries -- Cuba, Russia, Thailand, Panama, Azerbaijan, and El Salvador having higher incarceration rates. Meanwhile, our state and local governments’ crime prevention social services (including jails and prisons), remain seriously underfunded; and

WHEREAS: While some Massachusetts District Attorneys have broken ranks to support a few of the recent Senate proposals, almost all DAs have for decades supported the foregoing “tough-on-crime” trends, and opposed almost all meaningful sentencing reform; instead, they, like Gov. Baker, often tout Massachusetts’ lesser (than most states’) incarceration rate as justification, and

WHEREAS: US Criminal Justice racial disparities impose disproportionate consequences on individuals, families and communities of color, with Massachusetts’ incarceration rate for Blacks and Hispanics being eight times and five times respectively that of Whites, and

WHEREAS: Across the country, both “blue” and “red” states have embraced a “Smart on Crime” paradigm shift of resources, prioritizing crime prevention over purely punitive incarceration, for example: Texas by 2014 closed three prisons, reducing by 6% its 2009 jail rate; Connecticut by 2016 closed 3 prisons, lowering inmate totals from near 20,000 in 2008 to under 15,600; and Louisiana will soon reduce inmate totals by 10%, saving $262 million over the next decade; and

WHEREAS: Mandatory minimum sentences, which have proliferated for four decades despite little evidence that they deter crime, (which is one stated purpose), impede in-prison and post-release treatment and shift discretion from judges in open court to prosecutors who, behind closed doors, decide charges and attempt to coerce defendants to enter into plea bargains and trial waivers; and

WHEREAS: Despite many good proposed reforms of specific problem areas at the state level, such as loosening many drug mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and making 19 the age of adulthood, and Gov. Baker’s bill based on the Council on State Governments “Justice Re-Investment” project, few efforts address big picture issues like non-drug mandatory minimum sentencing, overall sentencing reform, or wider diversion options for misdemeanor offenses that would keep defendants out of court and without CORI records, and would save court resources; and

2017 Annual Report

WHEREAS: Only about 8% of Massachusetts inmates are serving mandatory minimums for drug crimes, and the worst racial disparities for sentencing are related to guns, with about 80% of these inmates being minorities, and

WHEREAS: State and national polls show strong preference for rehabilitation, drug and mental health treatment, and community policing over jails and prisons; and a burgeoning grassroots-community movement, has been pushing for sentencing reform, racial justice, diversion, and smartness-on-crime practices; and

WHEREAS: The Sentencing Commission, reconstituted by Gov. Patrick in 2014 should propose sentencing guidelines by legislation and other reforms like diversion, and should propose bills circumventing mandatory minimum sentencing beyond drugs, e.g. Safety Valves (criteria for judges to selectively depart downward from mandatory minimums) instead of merely changing the (c. 1996) administrative guidelines, which are only sometimes consulted and only in superior court, thereby lacking broad systemic impact,

Therefore, Be It Resolved That Brookline, By Vote of Its Elected Town Meeting Urges:

The State to enact substantial sentencing reform and diversion that is much broader than the now pending state house bills, with appropriate procedures for prosecutors’ and defense attorneys’ input, with appeals when dissatisfied, and including:

1. reallocating funds to meaningful, evidence-based, safety-focused prevention initiatives from our over $1 billion annual incarceration spending which warehouses many minorities, still-formative youths, and aging inmates; 2. allowing deserving defendants charged with misdemeanors and lesser felonies to avoid court, get needed treatment, and retain clean CORI’s; 3. establishing mandatory minimum Safety Valves for more than just drug crimes, allowing DA’s and defense lawyers to then appeal; and 4. comprehensive sentencing guidelines legislation proposed by the Sentencing Commission for broad but tightly-defined mandatory minimum Safety Valves and significant “diversion”;

And that The Select Board (1) convey this Resolution to our legislators, statewide elected officers, the Norfolk County District Attorney; and (2) request our state Senator and Representatives to update them on significant General Court developments relative to criminal justice reform.

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SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY TOWN MEETING REQUIRING ACTION BY THE SELECT BOARD OR DEPARTMENTS

TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Calls on the Great and General Court to support The Resolution was sent to the Court, Governor, May ’01 20 statewide legislation banning the use of cellular Attorney General, Executive Office of Public Safety, Annual telephones while operating a motor vehicle. Boards of Select Board, and Mayors. The Resolution was sent to death penalty abolition May ’01 Supports the abolition of the death penalty and the 23 leaders, the Governor, the Town’s legislative delegation, Annual passage of the Innocence Protection Act. and President of the U.S. Calls on the General Court to adopt legislation Copies of the Resolution were sent to each member of requiring all school buses to be fitted with three- Brookline’s legislative delegation asking that it be Nov. ’01 16 point lap and shoulder restraints by July, 2003. brought to the attention of the Ways and Means Special Also, calls upon the Town’s representatives in Committee and other appropriate legislative bodies and such matters to research and arrange compliance. officials. May ’02 Calls on the Town’s Zoning By-Law Commission 13 Referred to the Zoning By-Law Commission for Review. Annual to conduct an investigation into “Mansionization”. Supports the opposition of any U.S. attack on Iraq Nov. ’02 1 Copies of the resolution were sent to the Town’s and requests that the Select Board transmit this Special legislative delegation and Federal representatives. resolution to our congressional delegation. Resolution was posted in public places and sent to the Seeks the revocation and elimination of provisions Norfolk County D.A., State Police, Town’s legislative May ’03 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security 17 delegation, State Attorney General, Governor, local U.S. Annual Act, and other Executive Orders that are deemed to Attorney, the U.S. Attorney General, and President of the diminish civil liberties. U.S. Calls for children’s welfare organizations to be May ’05 25 informed and for Town groups to explore raising The resolution was widely publicized. Annual awareness about corporal punishment of children. Nov. ’05 Supports the construction and implementation of a Copies of the resolution were sent to the Town’s 29 Special plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. legislative delegation and Federal representatives. The Town continues to support the Village Square May ’06 Supports the improvement of the Gateway East Project (formerly called Gateway East). Design plans 30 Annual Area. have been submitted to the state, and construction is planned for approximately 2016. Reaffirms the Town’s commitment as a Sanctuary Town, endorses the platform of the Keep Our Families Together Campaign, calls upon the U.S. Department of Nov. ’06 Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs A copy of this resolution was sent to the Massachusetts 26 Enforcement to issue a moratorium on immigration raids Special until Congress comes to an agreement on comprehensive Congressional delegation and to the President of the U.S. immigration reform and urges the U.S. Senate to defeat HR 4437 and urges the President to veto any such legislation. Nov. ’06 Urges that at least 50% of Town committee Notification of the resolution was sent to all Boards and 28 Special meetings should be held in the evening. Commissions.

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TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Urges support for Support Tax Exemptions and Nov. ’07 Copies of the Resolution were sent to each member of 22 Incentives Legislation for Certain Property Special Brookline’s legislative delegation. Owners Using Wind and Solar Power. Nov. ’07 Support Statewide Legislation to Encourage the Representative Frank Smizik filed legislation at the state 23 Special Purchase of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles. level. Urges the Town and the unions to proceed with good faith negotiations for joining the Group The Town and the union Public Employee Committee May ’08 Insurance Commission (GIC) and resolve further 30 reached an agreement to switch to the state Group Annual that future consideration of appropriations for Insurance Commission effective July 1, 2010. labor agreements take into account the status of efforts to opt into the GIC. Calls on the Great and General Court to support The Resolution was sent to the Court, Governor, May ’01 20 statewide legislation banning the use of cellular Attorney General, Executive Office of Public Safety, Annual telephones while operating a motor vehicle. Boards of Select Board, and Mayors. The Resolution was sent to death penalty abolition May ’01 Supports the abolition of the death penalty and the 23 leaders, the Governor, the Town’s legislative delegation, Annual passage of the Innocence Protection Act. and President of the U.S. Calls on the General Court to adopt legislation Copies of the Resolution were sent to each member of requiring all school buses to be fitted with three- Brookline’s legislative delegation asking that it be Nov. ’01 16 point lap and shoulder restraints by July, 2003. brought to the attention of the Ways and Means Special Also, calls upon the Town’s representatives in Committee and other appropriate legislative bodies and such matters to research and arrange compliance. officials. May ’02 Calls on the Town’s Zoning By-Law Commission 13 Referred to the Zoning By-Law Commission for Review. Annual to conduct an investigation into “Mansionization”. Supports the opposition of any U.S. attack on Iraq Nov. ’02 1 Copies of the resolution were sent to the Town’s and requests that the Select Board transmit this Special legislative delegation and Federal representatives. resolution to our congressional delegation. Resolution was posted in public places and sent to the Seeks the revocation and elimination of provisions Norfolk County D.A., State Police, Town’s legislative May ’03 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security 17 delegation, State Attorney General, Governor, local U.S. Annual Act, and other Executive Orders that are deemed to Attorney, the U.S. Attorney General, and President of the diminish civil liberties. U.S. Calls for children’s welfare organizations to be May ’05 25 informed and for Town groups to explore raising The resolution was widely publicized. Annual awareness about corporal punishment of children. Nov. ’05 Supports the construction and implementation of a Copies of the resolution were sent to the Town’s 29 Special plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. legislative delegation and Federal representatives. The Town continues to support the Village Square May ’06 Supports the improvement of the Gateway East Project (formerly called Gateway East). Design plans 30 Annual Area. have been submitted to the state, and construction is planned for approximately 2016. Reaffirms the Town’s commitment as a Sanctuary Town, endorses the platform of the Keep Our Families Together Campaign, calls upon the U.S. Department of Nov. ’06 Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs A copy of this resolution was sent to the Massachusetts 26 Enforcement to issue a moratorium on immigration raids Special until Congress comes to an agreement on comprehensive Congressional delegation and to the President of the U.S. immigration reform and urges the U.S. Senate to defeat HR 4437 and urges the President to veto any such legislation. Nov. ’06 Urges that at least 50% of Town committee Notification of the resolution was sent to all Boards and 28 Special meetings should be held in the evening. Commissions.

www.brooklinema.gov

TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Urges support for Support Tax Exemptions and Nov. ’07 Copies of the Resolution were sent to each member of 22 Incentives Legislation for Certain Property Special Brookline’s legislative delegation. Owners Using Wind and Solar Power. Nov. ’07 Support Statewide Legislation to Encourage the Representative Frank Smizik filed legislation at the state 23 Special Purchase of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles. level. Urges the Town and the unions to proceed with good faith negotiations for joining the Group The Town and the union Public Employee Committee May ’08 Insurance Commission (GIC) and resolve further 30 reached an agreement to switch to the state Group Annual that future consideration of appropriations for Insurance Commission effective July 1, 2010. labor agreements take into account the status of efforts to opt into the GIC. Through this resolution, the Town of Brookline May ’09 Recognizes the tenth anniversary of the Brookline- 28 acknowledged the valued friendship between the people Annual Xi’an China Exchange Program. of Xi’an and the people of Brookline. Asks the Select Board and other Town officials to The Carlton Street Footbridge Rehabilitation project is work diligently with appropriate State officials in Nov. ’09 formally included on the Commonwealth's 5 order that the reconstruction of the Carlton Street Special Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for project Footbridge includes suitable handicap-accessible funding starting in Federal Fiscal Year 2016. features. Encourages the Town to gradually increase the The Select Board's stipends for FY16 reflect the FY11 Nov. ’09 Select Board’s stipend and encourages the 15 increase voted on at the May, 2010 Annual Town Special Advisory Committee to review the stipends and Meeting. make recommendations for adjustments. Urges the Advisory Committee and Board of Select Board to give serious consideration to the The FY16 Financial Plan increased funding from the Nov. ’09 other funding and cost containment 16 General Fund to $3.2M and includes $281K from Special recommendations of the OPEB Task Force for assessments of grants and special revenue funds. managing and controlling the Town’s retiree health care costs. Calls on the U. S. Conference of Mayors and President of the United States to commence Through this resolution the Town expressed support for negotiations for a verifiable treaty to eliminate Nov. ’09 the work of President Obama and the over 3,000 mayors 17 nuclear weapons, and calls on the Selectman to Special worldwide who have committed their cities to the effort send a message of support for these negotiations to to abolish nuclear weapons. the President of the United States, and to our members of Congress. Urges the Select Board to establish an annual The MLK Celebration Committee planned another May ’10 town-wide commemoration of Martin Luther successful event. The Human Resources Director 17 Annual King, Jr. Day and to report annually on progress presented the third annual Diversity report to the Board toward realizing the vision of Dr. King. in April 2013. Urges the Select Board to establish a committee May ’10 The summer of 2014 was Brookline’s third year as a 18 tasked to examine the suitability of a bicycle Annual member of the Hubway regional bike system. sharing program for Brookline. Encourages the consideration of birds when The Parks and Open Space Division web site contains May ’10 19 designing building projects and when lighting links to resources promoting bird-safe building designs in Annual buildings at night. support of this Resolution. Intended to poll Town meeting on their preference The schedule for the May, 2011 Town Meeting was Nov. ’10 for the current Town Meeting schedule or to hold 19 determined when the Moderator took a motion to adjourn Special Town Meeting on two non-consecutive evenings on the first night. per week.

2017 Annual Report

ART TOWN MTG. RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN # The Transportation Board has completed a review of all known “no turn on red” restrictions under town Asks the Transportation Board to adopt standards jurisdiction. Reports and a summary of action table are regarding a right turn on red and report their available in the No Turn On Red folder in the Nov. ’10 Special 20 progress to Town Meeting as expeditiously as Transportation files located at possible. www.brooklinema.gov/transportation. Work orders for all approved sign removals and installations are being processed by the DPW. Requests the suspension of the sale and/or serving Nov. ’10 Special 21 of veal products to the public within the Town of The resolution was widely publicized. Brookline. Urges the Town to honor Governor and Mrs. Dukakis with recognition appropriate to their The Dukakis Recognition Committee submitted a May ’11 18 accomplishments and urges the Select Board to report with their recommendations to the Annual appoint a committee to make a recommendation to November, 2012 Special Town Meeting. be brought to the 2012 Annual Town Meeting. Urges the Transportation Board to assess and At their July, 2012 meeting the Transportation May ’11 19 evaluate its current Traffic Calming Policy and Board adopted a new Traffic Calming Policy & Annual Procedures Procedures. The Interim Report on the Norfolk County was discussed and accepted by the Board in Urges the Select Board to coordinate with other September, 2011. The County Commissioners Norfolk County communities to seek a remedy to May ’11 have proposed legislation which would change 21 the inequities in the current county structure, Annual the way the county is funded. The Board petition the delegation to study the issue and report continues to discuss this issue with the County on progress before September 15, 2011. Manager, State Representatives and various other municipal and county officials. The Town Administrator formed a Parking Meter Task Force that was charged with evaluating the new multi-space meters installed in various commercial areas of the Town. A series of changes have been made to improve the system, Urges the Town to modify, relocate or retrofit the including the replacement of the curbside multi- Nov. ’11 Special 14 new multi-space meters. space meters with single-space meters that accept credit cards. In addition, the multi-space meters remain in the parking lots but were converted to a “pay by space”, thereby eliminating the need to return to your vehicle to place the receipt on the dashboard. Urges the Health Department and Park and Recreation Commission to continue the Town agencies are formally monitoring park use Nov. ’11 Special 15 coordination and monitoring of use of playgrounds this spring and summer and will report results by day care centers to address any systemic back to the Park and Rec Commission. problems that are observed. Intended to poll Town meeting on their preference for the current Town Meeting schedule or to hold The schedule for the May, 2015 Annual Town Nov. ’11 Special 16 Town Meeting on two non-consecutive evenings Meeting calls for two non-consecutive evening per week for the Annual Town Meeting schedule meetings (Tuesday / Thursday). only. Acknowledges with profound regret the The Town Clerk distributed copies of this enslavement of Native-Americans and African- May ‘12 resolution to the public libraries and schools in 27 Americans and the exploitation of slave labor by Annual Town and posted this resolution on the Town’s this Town, within this Town, and amongst the website. citizens of this Town.

www.brooklinema.gov

ART TOWN MTG. RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN # Requests the Board to direct the Town Administrator to create a Task Force on Clean The Task Force submitted a report with their May ‘12 Construction examining the desirability and 28 recommendations to the May, 2013 Annual Town Annual possibility of the Town enacting clean construction Meeting. and compliance standards. Asks the Committee to submit a report to the 2013 Annual Town Meeting. Calls for the United States Congress to pass a The Town Clerk sent copies of the resolution to constitutional amendment to overturn the United the President of the United States, the Governor May ‘12 29 States Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Annual United v. Federal Election Commission Brookline’s congressional and state legislative delegations, The Boston Globe and the TAB. Asks the Town to support the concept of state- Through this resolution the Town expressed Nov. ’12 Special 7 wide pre-foreclosure mortgage mediation under support for state-wide pre-foreclosure mortgage appropriate circumstances. mediation. The Solar Roof Study Committee presented a Asks the Select Board to work with the Building Solar PV Check List which was adopted by both Commission to establish a committee, the purpose the Building Commission and Select Board to be Nov. ’12 Special 15 of which is to study the potential costs and used to assure that all potentially relevant capital benefits, including non-financial costs, of making projects include a solar assessment as part of their Town-owned roofs “solar-ready” design process. Calls on our US Senators and Representatives to Copies of the resolution were sent to the oppose further funding of the war in Afghanistan President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of except as needed to bring our troops safely home, State, Governor Patrick, all U.S. senators and Nov. ’12 Special 16 reduce overall military spending and support representatives from Massachusetts, and the federal funding for Iraq and Afghanistan war Brookline TAB and major Boston-area veterans. newspapers, television stations and radio stations. Asks the that funds be included in the FY 15 budget that would support a professional Funding for a consultant to study Transit Signal engineering study of the costs and benefits of May ‘13 Prioritization was included in the proposed 22 upgrading Town-owned traffic signals, controllers, Annual FY2015-FY2020 CIP and is currently under and associated equipment along Beacon St. (the C review by the Advisory Committee. line) to allow for the prioritization of MBTA trolleys. A copy of this resolution was sent to the President of the United States, US Secretary of Energy, Massachusetts State Congressional Asks Town Meeting to adopt a resolution in delegation, Governors of Maine, Massachusetts, May ‘13 opposition to transportation fueled by high impact 23 New Hampshire, and Vermont, CEO of Portland Annual fuels such as those from refineries using feed Pipeline Corporation, CEO of Montreal Pipeline stocks from Canadian Tar Sands. Limited, CEO of Enbridge Incorporated, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Provincial Premiers of Canada. The Select Board made appointments in January, Calls for the Select Board to make appointments to 2014 and the May, 2014 Annual Town Meeting Nov. ’13 Special 16 the Human Relations-Youth Resources warrant includes a proposed reorganization of the Commission (HR/YRC). Commission. A copy of the resolution was sent to President Opposes unilateral United States intervention in Nov. ’13 Special 17 Obama and to Brookline’s congressional the Syrian conflict. delegation. Urges the Select Board not to increase beyond current levels the hours of operation of the general The hours set in the Select Board’s vote from Nov. ’13 Special 18 police surveillance cameras funded by the January, 2010 remain in effect. Department of Homeland Security.

2017 Annual Report

ART TOWN MTG. RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN # The Director of Veterans Services set up the May ̓14 Annual 27 Asks the Select Board to honor the memory of honor flag program. The first ceremony honoring deceased veterans who were residents of Brookline deceased veteran William McCarthy will be held on April 6, 2015. There is a second request to honor a WWII Battle of the Bulge veteran. Calls for the deployment of enforcement officers The Town Administrator assembled a taskforce to in business districts beginning in the fourth analyze and resolve some of the important issues May ̓14 Annual daylight hour after snowfalls to enforce the of keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Due 28 Town’s snow removal by-law. The specific to their diligence, the taskforce was able to portion of that by-law is Section 7.7.1, which propose several changes to the Bylaw that would requires owners of commercial property make increase penalties, provide for the posting and sidewalks non-slippery suitable for pedestrian notification of each compliance period, and allow travel within the first three hours between sunrise for delays in enforcement due to extreme and sunset after the snow and ice has come upon circumstances. such sidewalk. The Solar Roof Study Committee presented a Asks the Select Board to work with the Building Solar PV Check List which was adopted by both Commission to establish a committee, the purpose the Building Commission and Select Board to be Nov. ’12 Special 15 of which is to study the potential costs and used to assure that all potentially relevant capital benefits, including non-financial costs, of making projects include a solar assessment as part of their Town-owned roofs “solar-ready” design process. Calls on our US Senators and Representatives to Copies of the resolution were sent to the oppose further funding of the war in Afghanistan President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of except as needed to bring our troops safely home, State, Governor Patrick, all U.S. senators and Nov. ’12 Special 16 reduce overall military spending and support representatives from Massachusetts, and the federal funding for Iraq and Afghanistan war Brookline TAB and major Boston-area veterans. newspapers, television stations and radio stations. Asks the that funds be included in the FY 15 budget that would support a professional Funding for a consultant to study Transit Signal engineering study of the costs and benefits of May ‘13 Prioritization was included in the proposed 22 upgrading Town-owned traffic signals, controllers, Annual FY2015-FY2020 CIP and is currently under and associated equipment along Beacon St. (the C review by the Advisory Committee. line) to allow for the prioritization of MBTA trolleys. A copy of this resolution was sent to the President of the United States, US Secretary of Energy, Massachusetts State Congressional Asks Town Meeting to adopt a resolution in delegation, Governors of Maine, Massachusetts, May ‘13 opposition to transportation fueled by high impact 23 New Hampshire, and Vermont, CEO of Portland Annual fuels such as those from refineries using feed Pipeline Corporation, CEO of Montreal Pipeline stocks from Canadian Tar Sands. Limited, CEO of Enbridge Incorporated, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Provincial Premiers of Canada. The Select Board made appointments in January, Calls for the Select Board to make appointments to 2014 and the May, 2014 Annual Town Meeting Nov. ’13 Special 16 the Human Relations-Youth Resources warrant includes a proposed reorganization of the Commission (HR/YRC). Commission. A copy of the resolution was sent to President Opposes unilateral United States intervention in Nov. ’13 Special 17 Obama and to Brookline’s congressional the Syrian conflict. delegation.

www.brooklinema.gov

TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Urges the Select Board not to increase beyond Nov. ’13 current levels the hours of operation of the general The hours set in the Select Board’s vote from January, 18 Special police surveillance cameras funded by the 2010 remain in effect. Department of Homeland Security. The Director of Veterans Services set up the honor flag May ̓14 27 Asks the Select Board to honor the memory of program. The first ceremony honoring deceased veteran Annual deceased veterans who were residents of Brookline William McCarthy will be held on April 6, 2015. There is a second request to honor a WWII Battle of the Bulge veteran. Calls for the deployment of enforcement officers The Town Administrator assembled a taskforce to in business districts beginning in the fourth analyze and resolve some of the important issues of May ̓14 daylight hour after snowfalls to enforce the keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Due to their Annual 28 Town’s snow removal by-law. The specific diligence, the taskforce was able to propose several portion of that by-law is Section 7.7.1, which changes to the Bylaw that would increase penalties, requires owners of commercial property make provide for the posting and notification of each sidewalks non-slippery suitable for pedestrian compliance period, and allow for delays in enforcement travel within the first three hours between sunrise due to extreme circumstances. and sunset after the snow and ice has come upon such sidewalk. Raises the issue of obstetric fistula, a medical Town Clerk submitted this resolution to Congressmen May ̓14 30 condition that occurs from a prolonged obstructed Keating and Kennedy and Senators Edward Markey and Annual labor where the baby gets stuck in the birth canal, Elizabeth Warren. compressing the tissue so no blood gets to it, causing it to die. Calls on the Town to affirm its support for the The general By-laws were amended to reflect the goal of May ̓14 31 prohibition of discrimination or harassment on the the Resolution an offered at the 2014 Special Town Annual basis of gender identity and gender expression in Meeting. employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and lending, and public education. Asks the Town to urge the Massachusetts May ̓14 32 Legislature to enact Senate Bill (SB) 1225, An Act Annual Relative to Public Investment in Fossil Fuels, or a successor bill with substantially the same content. The Town has divested for fossil fuels of all Town SB1225 would require the Commonwealth’s scholarship and special revenue funds. Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board to fully divest its direct holdings in fossil fuel companies over a five-year period. Recommends that the transportation board and any The Transportation Board is considering new regulations Nov ̓14 16 other boards or committees reconsider changes to to improve the closed license system that currently exists. Special the taxi license regulations and the expected revenue for the Town from the sale of medallions. Relates to the Town’s project to convert all street The Engineering Division continues to move forward Nov ̓14 17 lighting to LEDs in order to lower costs and to with its LED lighting replacement program. Special decrease the carbon footprint of the Town Seeks support for the Massachusetts Domestic Through this Resolution the Town expressed support of Nov ̓14 18 Worker’s Bill of Rights that was enacted this past the Massachusetts Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights. Special summer.

2017 Annual Report

TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Calls for the Town to oppose the Northeast Energy Direct Project of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline and The Town Clerk sent a copy of this resolution to all similar projects that may be later proposed. It the Town’s state and federal legislative Nov ̓14 19 also asks for an affirmation that there is a need for representatives, the Governor, Massachusetts Special public policy at the local, state and federal levels Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, to encourage renewable energy and combat and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The climate change and to support legislation to ban or issue is being debated. impose a long-term moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.

May ‘15 17 Urges the Select Board to Support Changes to the The Town’s Housing Production Plan is now Annual Affordable Housing Law Mass G.L. c. 40B. underway.

May ̓15 18 Request the Select Board study and consider use of The Select Board formed a Committee and Annual Eminent Domain for two green space buffer zones submitted a report to the Fall Town Meeting. along Russett and Beverly Road

May ‘15 19 Urges town-wide elected officials, state Town Clerk notified elected officials of this Annual representatives and state senator to actively oppose Resolution. Boston 2024’s Olympics bid. Select Board to increase the Use of Electricity Town is working to regulate power through Nov ‘15 14 from Renewable Sources of Energy Using a procurement with Metropolitan Area Planning Special Community Choice Aggregation Plan Commission (MAPC) with a completion date of January 2017. Concerns the exercise of Eminent Domain in The Select Board formed a Committee and Nov ‘15 15 Hancock Village. reported to the Fall Town Meeting. Special

Urges that Brookline to express its support for a The Town Clerk sent a copy of this resolution to Nov ̓15 16 moratorium on all high-stakes use of standardized the President of the United States, Massachusetts Special test and call on state and federal officials to Congressional Delegation, Governor, Secretary of immediately adopt said moratorium Education, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives members of the Joint Committee on education and the Brookline delegation to the General Court. Urges the Town of Brookline to call on federal and The Select Board sent a copy of the Resolution Nov ̓15 17 Massachusetts agencies to deny permits for the with the explanation of the Article and Federal Special Northeast Direct natural gas pipeline proposal and Docket numbers to Governor Baker, Attorney the Access Northeast natural gas pipeline proposal General Healy Secretary of the Energy and and call on federal and Massachusetts agencies to Environmental Affairs Matthew Beacon, reject investment in the Access Northeast project Commissioners of Public Utilities, Secretary of proposed by Eversource and National Grid and to the Department of Public Utilities, Energy deny their consideration for setting electricity Facilities Board of Director Andrew Greene, rates. Senator Cynthia Creem; the Brookline delegation to the General Court; President Obama; Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, to Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners; and the Brookline Congressional delegation.

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TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # Urges the Town to commit to achieving the goal of Following the passage of the resolution in Nov ̓15 18 having all school and town departments at all November 2015, the Diversity Inclusion and Special grade levels reflect the 23% of Brookline residents Community Relations Commission (DICRC) has who are Black, Latino, Asian and other people of been working in collaboration with the Office of color. Diversity Inclusion, Community Relations Office Human Resources to provide better analytics for employee and applicant demographics and to consider ways to work with the Town and School departments to reflect the our Brookline residents who are Black, Latino, Asian and other people of color. May ’16 17 Establishing the need for an exception system for Program is going to be implemented in May Annual accommodations for the new Hybrid Pay as You 2017. Incorporated a size and exception program Throw Waste Collection System. into the Hybrid Pay as You Throw Waste Collection System. May ’16 A new plaque was installed at the site of the 18 Plaque at the site of the former St. Aidan’s Church Annual former St. Aidan’s Church. May ’16 Honor Roland Hayes with a plaque at his former 19 Plaque was installed and dedicated in June 2016. Annual residence. The Select Board sent a copy of the Resolution May ’16 Calling for an end to the US economic, 20 with the explanation of the Article to Annual commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III. The Select Board sent a copy of the Resolution with the explanation of the Article to Governor Charles Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, Speaker of the Massachusetts House Robert DeLeo, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, May ’16 Affirming Brookline’s Commitment to Solar 21 Commissioners of Public Utilities Angela Annual Electricity. O'Connor, Jolette Westbrook and Robert Hayden, Secretary of the Department of Public Utilities Mark D. Marini, Energy Facilities Siting Board Director Andrew Greene, Senator Cynthia Creem, Representatives Edward Coppinger, Michael Moran, Jeffrey Sanchez and Frank Smizik. The Select Board sent a copy of the Resolution with the explanation of the Article to the President of the United States; the Massachusetts May ’16 Urging rejection of free trade deals containing 22 delegation to the U.S. Senate and House of Annual ISDS. Representatives; and the Brookline delegation to the Massachusetts Legislature on behalf of the entire Town Meeting. Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Sub- Committee of the Select Board’s Climate Action Committee met and developed a report for the Nov ’16 Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations and the 2017 Annual Town Meeting (in combined 18 Special Massachusetts Electrical Code reports). Concluded that amendments were needed for the Transportation Access Plan and Zoning By-Laws, creation of best practices, and pursuit of funding; among other conclusions.

2017 Annual Report

TOWN ART RESOLUTION SUMMARY ACTIONS TAKEN MTG. # DPW is looking to revamp how the department internally manages leaf blower by-law violations. Administration of Leaf Blower by-law, Nov ’16 Increased attention will be put forth by the 24 specifically concerning the staffing within DPW Special Department to help facilitate the enforcement of concerning enforcement. the by-law in Article 23 of the November 2016 Special Town Meeting. The Town has kept a close watch of current costs Nov ’16 Funding requests to defend the Town’s planning associated with 40B projects. Town Counsel’s 32 Special interest before the Housing Appeals Committee budget has been deemed sufficient to defend the Town’s interests regarding 40B projects. Nov ’16 Committee formed and will present report to 33 Senior Tax Relief Committee Special November 2017 Special Town Meeting. Select Board have established a committee on the Nov ’16 Brookline Village Parking Lot air rights for topic and the committee is currently meeting. The 34 Special affordable senior housing. Committee has received a grant from Mass Housing Partnership. File the 2012 Climate Action Plan as amended in May ’17 Commitment to the Paris Agreement of 2015 20 2015 with the proper groups. Climate Action Annual (concerning climate change). Committee tasked with further actions. Fully engage with the GARE implementation Select Board has assigned the additional training May ’17 22 process with municipal departments and the and implementation of the GARE process to Annual community. DICR. Urging for the investigation whether sufficient Letters concerning the resolution were sent to May ’17 1 grounds exist for the impeachment of President Members of the United States House of Special Donald J. Trump. Representatives that represent the Town. Select Board has changed all letterhead, signage, Nov ’17 Gender neutral language required for future 20 and communications representing the gender Special documents and communications. neutral language of the Board. Nov ’17 Select Board are working towards the creation of 20 Indigenous Peoples Day creation. Special an Indigenous Peoples Day Committee. Select Board has communicated the resolution to Nov ’17 22 Criminal Justice Reform needed from the State. legislators, statewide elected officers, and the Special Norfolk County District Attorney.

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GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Town Clerk Patrick Joseph Ward

On Tuesday, May 2, 2017, the Annual Town Election was held. Polling Places were open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. A total of 5,881 of the 36,155 eligible registered voters in the Town, or 16.2%, participated in the Annual Town Election.

On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 7:00 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for the Annual Town Meeting, held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium, adjourned to Wednesday, May 24, 2017 and dissolved on Tuesday, May 25, 2017 at 9:28 P.M., in order to complete the business of the twenty-three article Warrant. Significant actions taken at the Annual Meeting included the approval of the FY2018 budget with total appropriated expenditures of $264,597,609 for the Town of Brookline, including, but not limited to, the following special appropriations:

 $120,000 for making improvements to the Data Room in Town Hall;  $120,000 for the enhancement of Town-wide hardware and software;  $50,000 for the rehabilitation of Fire Department apparatus;  $625,000 for the replacement of Fire Engine #6;  $280,000 for extraordinary repairs to Fire Stations;  $71,000 for the purchase and installation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) washers and dryers for the Fire department;  $646,500 for traffic calming studies and improvements;  $33,000 for bicycle access improvements;  $161,040 for the purchase of parking meters;  $333,663 for the modernization of the Carlton Street/Monmouth Street traffic signal;  $1,670,000 for the rehabilitation of streets;  $312,00 for the rehabilitation of sidewalks;  $240,000 for Municipal Service Center site improvements;  $40,000 for the structural evaluation of the Davis Path Footbridge;  $300,000 for stormwater improvements;  $300,000 for improvements to the water system;  $70,000 for the design of the renovation of Murphy Playground;  $305,000 for the renovation of playground equipment, fields, and fencing;  $150,000 for the rehabilitation of Town and School grounds;  $230,000 for the removal and replacement of trees;  $90,000 for School furniture upgrades;  $75,000 for ADA renovations to Town and School facilities;  $475,000 for improvement to elevators in Town and School facilities;  $75,000 for energy conservation projects in Town and School facilities;  $125,000 for upgrades to energy management systems in Town and School facilities;  $215,000 for improvements to life safety systems and building security in Town and School facilities;  $100,000 for minor renovations and upgrades to school buildings;  $400,000 for HVAC system improvements at the Driscoll School;  $995,000 for the expansion of classroom capacity in various schools;  $1,500,000 for a feasibility study and schematic design services for a 9th School to be expended prior to a MSJC decision on Smith v. Westfield;  $2,200,000 for the renovation of Brookline Reservoir Park;

Other actions taken at the Annual Meeting included:

 established that the number of Measurers of Wood and Bark be two and to be appointed by the Select Board;  approved the collective bargaining agreement for AFSCME Council 93, Local 1358 AFL-CIO, AFSCME Traffic Supervisors, for fiscal years FY2017, and FY 2018, with total roll out costs of $88,220;

2017 Annual Report

 approved the collective bargaining agreement for the Teamsters, Local 25, Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers, for fiscal years FY2017 and FY2018, with total roll out costs of $89,457;  authorized the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to enter into Compensating Balance Agreements for FY2018;  established an additional property tax exemption for FY2018, in accordance with Section 4 of Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986;  amended the FY2017 budget by transferring $1,000,000 from the declared surplus in the Overlay Account to the Reserve Fund;  voted to supplement each prior authorization vote of the Town, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 20 of the General Laws, that the premium received by the Town on the sale of any bonds or notes, less any payments necessary for the costs of issuance, may be applied to pay project costs, and the amount authorized to be borrowed shall be reduced by any such premium;  adopted a new General By-law amending campaign finance reporting for Brookline municipal elections, by reducing the detail of reporting, reducing it to single pre-election report, and extending the reporting requirement to all Town-wide candidates and ballot Question Committees;  adopted a new General By-Law clarifying and updating the role of the Brookline Commission on Disability;  amended General By-Law, Article 8.23 -Tobacco Control, by limiting the issuance of new permits for the sale of tobacco products to current holders of such permits, with certain restrictions;  amended Section 2.18 – “R” Definitions, and Section 4.07 – Table of Use Regulations, of the Zoning By-Laws, to establish a moratorium on Recreational Marijuana;  amended Section 7.08 – Design Review, of the Zoning By-Laws, to allow a delegated authority to administratively approve an application for a proposed sign following specific design guidelines adopted by the Planning Board;  authorized the Select Board to enter into a lease for rooftop space on the Runkle School building for the purpose of installing solar panels;  accepted an easement over a portion of land located 1180 Boylston Street in order to restore pedestrian sidewalk access to a minimum of ten feet wide;  accepted Chapter 90, Section 17C of the General Laws, allowing municipalities to establish a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on any roadway inside a thickly settled or business district that is not a state highway;  accepted Chapter 90, Section 18B of the General Laws, allowing municipalities to establish safety zones which will be posted as having speed limits of 20 miles per hour;  resolved that the Town of Brookline commit to adhering to the Paris Agreement of 2015, developing a revised climate change plan, and educate citizens about the danger of climate change;  resolved that the Town of Brookline establishes energy efficient goals and minimum standards for constructing the 9th elementary school, in order to promote a significant advance toward a “net zero energy” for Brookline’s schools;  resolved that the Town of Brookline participate more fully in the Governmental Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE); and  resolved that Brookline Town Meeting supports the passage of S.1551 – “An Act Relevant to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives” and supports the use of any and all incremental Brookline revenue associated with the act, to fund additional pedestrian, bicycle and mass transportation infrastructure;

At the Annual Town Meeting, Moderator Edward N. Gadsby, Jr. asked for a moment of silence while Town Clerk Patrick Joseph Ward read the final roll call for Town Meeting Members who had died since the previous Annual Meeting: HONOR ROLL

David L. Bachrach Gordon F. Lupien 1969 - 1988 1974 - 1977 Robert I. Sperber 2001 - 2016 Frank W. Farlow Eleanor Myerson 1990 - 2016 1957 - 1990 Dorothy M. Ward 1990; 1993 - 2003 Marcia M. Heist J. Rosson Overcash 1997 - 2006 1963 - 1969 ~Requiescat in Pace~

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On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 8:00 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for a Special Town Meeting, held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium. It was adjourned to Thursday, May 25, 2017 and dissolved at 9:56 P.M., in order to complete the business of the one article Warrant. The significant action taken at the Special Town Meeting was the following:  resolved that Brookline Town Meeting call upon the United States House of Representatives to support a resolution authorizing and directing the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States

On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 8:30 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for a Special Town Meeting, held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium. It was dissolved at 10:05 P.M., in order to complete the business of the one article Warrant. The significant action taken at the Special Town Meeting was the following:  appropriated $1,850,000 for the phase two feasibility and schematic design related to the off-site building expansion of the High School

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 7:00 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for a Special Town Meeting held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium, adjourned to Wednesday, November 15, 2017, and dissolved at 10:55 P.M., in order to complete the business of the twenty-three article Warrant. Significant actions taken at the Special Meeting included:  amended the FY2018 budget by appropriating $340,000 for Singletree Tank improvements; $320,000 for Singletree Gatehouse improvements; and $50,000 to implement Traffic Signal Prioritization on the MBTA’s Green Line;  authorization for the Select Board to purchase by gift, eminent domain, or otherwise, in fee simple, a parcel of land located at 111 Cypress Street, for general municipal purposes, included but not limited to, the expansion of the High School;  authorization for the Select Board to petition the Legislature to increase the amount of qualifying income for Brookline’s Senior Real Estate Tax Deferral Program;  authorization for the Select Board to reduce the interest rate charged on real property tax deferrals for qualifying seniors who participate in the Brookline Senior Tax Deferral Program;  acceptance of Section 3D of Chapter 60 of the General Law, thereby establishing a taxation aid committee and aid to the elderly and disabled taxation fund;  authorization for the Select Board to petition the Legislature to grant 35 additional licenses for the sale of alcohol to be drunk on the premises and 5 additional licenses for the sale of wines and malts to be drunk on the premises;  amended various General and Zoning By-Laws by changing the name of the Select Board to the Select Board and Select Board to Select Board Members;  resolved to change the name of the Select Board to the Select Board and Select Board to Select Board Members and to encourage Town municipal officers, boards, committees, and commissions, to strive to use gender-neutral language where appropriate and practicable;  resolved that the Select Board establish the second Monday of October to be commemorated as Indigenous Peoples Day in Brookline; that the Select Board establish an Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration Committee to develop, implement and identify resources for the commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Day; and that the Brookline Public Schools, local businesses and organizations be encouraged to recognize and observe Indigenous Peoples Day;  resolved that Brookline Town Meeting recognize the work of Brookline resident John Wilson and support the installation in Town Hall of his sculpture of the head of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;  resolved that Brookline Town Meeting support meaningful state legislation for sentencing reform and diversion;

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 7:300 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for a Special Town Meeting held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium. It was adjourned to Wednesday, November 15, 2017, and dissolved at 10:57 P.M., in order to complete the business of the one article Warrant. No actions were taken.

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 8:00 P.M., Town Meeting Members convened for a Special Town Meeting held at Brookline High School’s Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium. It was dissolved at 8:53 P.M., in order to complete the business of the one article Warrant. The significant action taken at the Special Meeting was the following:

2017 Annual Report

 re-appropriated up to $1,000,000 as follows: $300,000 for further site evaluations, including legal services for the Baldwin/Pine Manor site and feasibility studies, including legal services for alternate sites which shall include, but not be limited to Pierce School and Baker School; $400,000 for further a feasibility study; and an additional $300,000 for a feasibility study for a multi–site solution, should one be chosen.

The Office of the Town Clerk, in 2017, recorded 580 births, pending final returns from other communities, resulting in a decrease of 22 births from the previous year. There were 7 adoptions and 8 amendments recorded. The office also recorded 352 deaths, pending final returns from other communities, resulting in a decrease of 5 deaths from the previous year. There were 7 amendments filed. The office also recorded 354 marriage intentions, a decrease of 59 marriage intentions from the previous year, and 357 marriages licenses, a decrease of 40 marriage licenses from the previous year. There were no amendments. The office posted 1,242 public meeting notices, in accordance with the Open Meeting Law, resulting in a decrease of 327 from the previous year. There were 2,407 dogs licensed in 2017, a decrease of 222 from the previous year. Of those 2,407 dogs licensed in 2017, 1,151 were also licensed in the Green Dog Program, a decrease of 212 dogs from the previous year. There were 134 non-resident licensees who participated in the Green Dog Program, a decrease of 19 from the previous year. There were also 1 Resident Commercial Dog Walker License, 9 Two-Day Guest Passes and 2 Weekly Guest Passes issued for the Green Dog Program during 2017.

Total 2017 revenues collected by the Office of the Town Clerk were $138,048, a decrease of $2,439 from 2016 revenues. Registrars of Voters

L-R: Andrew J. McIlwraith, Margaret C. Maguire, Assistant Town Clerk Linda Golburgh, and Town Clerk Patrick Joseph Ward

The Board of Registrars of Voters is a four-member board whose responsibilities include registering voters, creating a local listing of residents, certifying nomination papers and petitions, processing absentee voter applications and administering elections and any necessary recounts or challenges. The Town Clerk serves as an Ex Officio member of the Board of Registrars of Voters. The Democratic Registrars are Town Clerk Patrick Joseph Ward and Assistant Town Clerk Linda G. Golburgh, who serves as Chair. The Republican Registrars are Andrew J. McIlwraith and Margaret C. Maguire. In 2017 the Board of Registrars of Voters administered and supervised the May 2, 2017 Annual Town Election. The Board of Registrars of Voters registered 2,178 new active registered voters, a decrease of 5,419 from 2016, inactivated 6,476 active registered voters, an increase of 5,204 from 2016, and amended 21,854 affidavits of voter registration for changes of status, party and address, including deletes, a decrease of 4,111 from 2016. The Board of Registrars of Voters mailed 8,244 confirmation notices, an increase of 3,040 from 2016, and inactivated 6,476 active registered voters, an increase of 5,204 from 2016. The Board of Registrars of Voters also processed 287 absentee ballot applications, a decrease of 5,339 from 2016 and certified 916 signatures for nominations and petitions,

55 www.brooklinema.gov a decrease of 8,467 from 2016. The Board of Registrars of Voters published the 2017 Street List of Persons Seventeen Years of Age and Older and established a total population of 48,819, an increase of 1,517 from 2016. Of this population, 35,605 were registered voters, a decrease of 427 from 2016, of which 27,815 were Active and 7,790 were Inactive.

Political Parties and Designations

Democrat* 17,294 Unenrolled 16,155 Republican* 2,259 United Independent Party 200 Green Rainbow 40 Libertarian* 35 American Independent 9 Conservative 7 Green Party USA 6 MA Independent Party 5 Socialist 6 Interdependent 3rd Party 3 Working Families 3 We the People 2 Pizza Party 2 Natural Law Party 1 Prohibition Party 1 Pirate Party 1 * Recognized Political Party

Town Counsel Joslin H. Murphy

The Town of Brookline’s legal team includes Town Counsel Joslin H. Murphy, First Assistant Town Counsel Patricia Correa, Associates Town Counsel John Buchheit and Jonathan Simpson and paraprofessional staff including Senior Paralegal Kerry Fleming, Paralegal Tracey Michienzi, and Senior Clerk Jane Tavolieri.

The Legal Department represents the interests of the Town in a multitude of complex and diverse legal issues, including: the defense of civil actions alleging civil rights violations, employment discrimination, breach of contract, school related matters, employment disciplinary appeals, personal injury and property damage cases, land use and zoning appeals and tax assessment appeals. The team routinely provides support services for the Town’s departments in a broad range of matters including issuing legal opinions to Department Heads, Town officials and employees; contract drafting and review; assisting in personnel related matters; and responding to public records requests and subpoenas. Legal representation is also provided for Town departments, boards, commissions, and employees in claims arising from employment disputes. They regularly assist Town officials and departments and citizens in the preparation of warrant articles for Special and Annual Town Meetings, drafting notices and votes for the Town’s Boards and Commissions, and attending meetings of the Select Board and bi-annual Town Meetings.

In addition to supporting the attorneys with litigation preparation and project assistance, the paraprofessional staff are responsible for handling such matters as: pursuing actions against tax-delinquent properties at the Land Court; filing Proof of Claims at the Bankruptcy Court to ensure that any outstanding debts owed to the Town are protected; managing the extensive volume of claims that are filed against the Town, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 84 and 258; assisting Town Departments in recovering monies owed to the Town for damage to Town property, and in the collection of unpaid fees; actively pursuing the recovery of money expended by the Town for medical expenses of police and fire department personnel who are injured in the line of duty by negligent third parties; responding to inquiries from the public; and providing assistance to other departments on various matters. The office also continues to work with the Town’s Licensing Review Committee (“LRC’), aiding in research of applicable laws, regulations, as well as drafting new regulations and updating existing regulations as needed.

2017 Annual Report

2017 was again an extraordinarily busy year for the Legal Department. This year’s accomplishments include:

 Participation in the negotiation, drafting and presentation of the Hancock Village Master Plan and attendant warrant articles and development agreements.  Provided guidance to the Select Board, License Review Committee, and various Town departments on the development of recreational marijuana dispensary regulations.  Won the dismissal of a school enrollment termination lawsuit in the First Circuit Court of Appeals.  Successfully defended the Town against an NRA-funded lawsuit in the United States District Court challenging the Police Chief’s authority to restrict gun licenses.  Provided guidance to several Town Departments on the implementation of the Municipal Modernization Act.  Substantially completed a collection of Town owned real property acquisition records.  Successfully defended the Town in multiple litigation matters, including personal injury and property damage claims, and appeals of Zoning Board of Appeals Preservation Commission decisions.  Negotiated, drafted and reviewed numerous contracts and other legal documents related to environmental matters; real estate transactions; and substantial project developments.  Coordinated responses to extensive public records requests related to the site selection for a ninth elementary school.  Assisted the Town’s Records Access Officer with responses to numerous Public Record Requests received by the Town.  Assisted the Planning and Community Development Department Housing Division in closing loans to create affordable housing units.  Worked with the Select Board’s Office, IT Department, Engineering Division and Purchasing Division to create a uniform license agreement, allowing wireless infrastructure companies to locate in the right of way.  Continued to provide guidance to Town officials, employees, and Board and Commission members in laws and regulations pertaining to Public Records, Open Meeting law and Conflict of Interest law.  Provided ongoing guidance and advice to School Department officials and employees.

Human Resources Sandra DeBow-Huang, Director

The mandate of the Human Resources Office is to develop and administer fair and equitable Human Resources polices for the Town and its employees and to provide a system of Human Resources administration that is uniform, efficient and represents the mutual interest of the Town and employees of the Town. Our duties fall into three broad categories, Personnel Administration for Town personnel, Benefit Administration for Town and Public School employees and Labor Relations. In 2017, the Human Resources Office worked diligently in these areas, with a focus on revising and updating policies, broadening our diverse workforce, and continued efforts to improve and maintain labor relations.

The Human Resources office continues to expand and diversify our recruitment networks to increase the vitality and breadth of our candidate pool. In 2017, Human Resources began the implementation of an online applicant tracking system for the effective recruitment, hiring and onboarding of candidates. This system offers candidates a simple, professional online application process; provides additional recruitment sources to encourage a diverse applicant pool; increases the efficiency of hiring managers and decreases cost per hire. This system gives the Human Resources Office the ability to utilize advanced analytics and reporting functions to develop meaningful recruitment and hiring data. Further, Human Resources continued our partnership with the Professional Diversity Network in support of our diversity efforts and to enhance our Brookline brand as welcoming and inclusive.

The Human Resources Office continues to work closely with Department Heads and the Human Resources Board to address their staffing needs in hiring, reclassification of key positions and the re-organization of job duties. Our efforts focus on strategies which work to support the Department’s objectives, but which are mindful of personnel costs. These efforts also include working with Departments to assist them in managing sick leave use and in maintaining case management of injured leave.

State and Federal employment laws are changing at a rapid pace, and the Human Resources Office and the Human Resources Board diligently work to align our policies with these changes. In close collaboration with the Information Technology Department, the Human Resources Office finalized a comprehensive Social Media Policy in 2017. With

57 www.brooklinema.gov the proliferation of smart devices and social media platforms, it was critical to provide clear guidance for employees on the use of social media, data protection, and how to best utilize social media to support the Town’s mission to enhance communications with the public.

Also in support of our personnel policies, the Human Resources Office identified new training modules to further develop effective training and development tools. Among the employee trainings conducted this year were specialized topics on employee bantering, interviewing techniques and inclusive language in the workplace. Human Resources also assisted the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in introducing our membership in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity organization to Town and School executive management.

In partnership with the MUNIS Steering Committee, and sub-committee, the Human Resources Office continued to assist in the development of efficiencies with regards to payroll and human resources administrative functions. As a result, recommendations have been developed for Town and School coordination and implementation. These recommendations will assist in best practices with regards to federal and state wage rules and human resources processes.

Human Resources works with seven unions and two sizeable non-union groups, its middle management and Department Heads, to ensure the high standard of rules and procedures to manage its personnel. Within these groups are several non-union groups including, seasonal, temporary and part-time employees. The HR Office continued the roll out of the multi-year project to revise the Classification and Pay Plan for non-union employees which included to clarify the differences between the union and non-union work rules and to ensure consistency and parity among the union and non-union, part-time and full-time groups; all this with an eye toward greater transparency and efficiencies across all groups.

Our partnerships with New England Baptist’s Occupational Health Department and our workers’ compensation third party administrator are a critical component of controlling personnel costs for workplace injuries. This ongoing partnership allows us to focus on individual case management and to ensure our employees receive a high level of care and treatment. We utilize our partnerships to actively investigate claims, review safety procedures, monitor medical treatment and billing and to ensure our employee’s safe return to work. This proactive approach assists in maintaining level expenses despite rising health care costs.

Educating employees on the importance of wellness but also in helping them navigate the complexity of health, life, and dental insurance and pre-tax benefits remains a priority for Human Resources. We continue education on our health care tools, i.e., use of HRAs and FSA and more efficient use of our health insurance plan options, and strive to educate our employees on how to reduce their health care costs, as well as the Town’s. In April 2017, as part of the Town’s Open Enrollment period, the Human Resources Office held its annual Wellness Fair featuring vendors from the Town’s Employee Assistance Program, (EAP), dental provider, cafeteria plan providers (Flexible Spending Account) and local area gyms. Town departments including Recreation and the Public Health Department also participated in the Wellness Fair to help encourage employee wellness initiatives.

Human Resources Board

Human Resources Board is comprised of five Town residents with diverse professional expertise in human resources, including the private sector, public sector, academic, union and non-unionized settings. They provide general recommendations for the Human Resources program on the adoption, modification or elimination of Human Resources policies and adjudicate grievances and complaints under the Human Resources bylaw and provisions of the Town labor contracts.

In 2017 the Human Resources Board continued to support the Human Resources Department in its efforts to develop and administer fair and equitable polices for the Town. Throughout the year the Human Resources Board’s regular monthly meetings dealt with a wide span of personnel issues, and it did so judiciously and promptly.

The Human Resources Board heard and ruled on a number of reclassifications and/or creation of new positions brought by the Human Resources Office with the respective Department Heads. This work continues to revise antiquated civil

2017 Annual Report service titles, to align classifications and pay rates both internally and externally, and to identify talent gaps with regard to succession planning initiatives.

The HR Board also heard grievances regarding workplace disputes that arose during 2017. The Board reviewed each grievance on its own merits, either rendering a decision or recommending that the parties work more diligently to resolve the matter or to come to some settlement. The careful consideration of the grievances that come before the Board has an important effect in maintaining harmonious labor relations between the Town’s management and its unionized employees.

The HR Board Policy Subcommittee has maintained its goal of focusing on updating policies and working toward a simple mechanism for employees, both union and unionized, to easily obtain the policies, contracts and rules that establish their rights and responsibilities, as well as training and advancement opportunities in the Town of Brookline.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Police Department Daniel O’Leary, Chief of Police

Throughout 2017, the Brookline Police Department continued to provide a wide continuum of public services in an effort to reduce crime, increase safety and enhance the quality of life in Brookline. Through proactive policing, intelligent deployment, Department-wide problem solving efforts, advanced training for our officers, increased engagement with the community and the use of a team approach, we continue to see great successes in the prevention and resolution of crime and disorder problems in the community. As you will see highlighted throughout this letter and the enclosed reports, the Brookline Police Department is taking great care to prepare for the wide range of emergencies and threats that could face our community.

Between evolving national trends and local demands, modern police officers are being asked to continually respond to a more diverse array of situations. As you will see from this report, the Brookline Police Department is ready and able to face the challenges that lie ahead.

On November 4, 2016, the Brookline Police Department graduated ten new recruit officers from the Lowell Police Department. During 2017, these recruits, which represent the most diverse class in the Department’s history, consisting of four women, two Asian officers and one African American officer, were supervised and evaluated as probationary officers working in the Patrol Division and all successfully completed their year program period.

Notwithstanding the addition of these ten new recruit officers, the Department is operating with 17 vacancies and anticipates additional vacancies from retiring officers over the next year. On March 25, 2017, there was a Police Entrance Exam offered by MA Civil Service for eligible candidates who are interested in a career in law enforcement. This spring, nine student officers will begin the Haverhill Police Academy and we are in the process of hiring potentially ten more to attend an academy later this year. This volume of new recruits is a great opportunity for the Brookline Police Department to hire skilled, caring, dedicated and diverse candidates who can contribute to making our community a better place to live and work.

In May of 2017, the Department suffered a tragic loss with the unexpected passing of Lieutenant June Murphy. Lieutenant Murphy joined the force in 1984. She was the first female Brookline Officer to earn the rank of Sergeant in 2000, and the first female sergeant to earn the rank of Lieutenant in 2003. Lieutenant Murphy played an integral role in the creation of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law

2017 Annual Report

Enforcement (MAWLE) and had recently launched a partnership with the Girl Scouts of MA to promote law enforcement as a career option to young girls. In March, Lieutenant Murphy planned and hosted the Department’s first Female Officers Brunch in honor of National Women’s History Month and invited all female officers – past and present to attend. It was a great event and highly attended.

Additionally, this past spring, Lieutenant Murphy initiated the Department’s Chief for a Day Essay Contest for 5th graders in Brookline. The Chief for a Day event was scheduled to be held the week after she passed and had to be delayed a few weeks as it would have conflicted with her funeral services. The Chief for a Day winner, Graham Horowitz, spent the day with the Brookline Police – starting with a police escort to the police station, a swearing in by Pat Ward, standing roll-call and making visits to various divisions in the police station. “Chief” Horowitz learned the process of lifting fingerprints, firearm safety, and hosted a Command Staff meeting. He assisted in bike enforcement, and even made an “arrest.” We believe Lieutenant Murphy would have been very proud with how the event turned out.

During 2017, the Department participated in many additional community outreach efforts. Working with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, we helped plan two free community events – the Pre-Spring Community Fling held at Pierce School in February and the Food Truck Friday event held in June at Driscoll School. Both events were attended by hundreds of residents and were a great opportunity for Brookline residents and police officers to come together and enjoy some fun activities! This past summer, the Brookline Police Department Community Service Division held its first Youth Summer Program for rising 8th graders, many for whom this was their own opportunity for some type of camp during the summer. Additionally, Brookline Police Officers participated in many community events such as the Brookline Arts Festival, PorchFest, the JFK Centennial Celebration, the Brookline Village Fair, Brookline Day, as well as numerous walks, runs, spring fairs and spring school activities.

In addition to some great work to build relationships in the community, the Police Department has compiled the crime statistics for the Town of Brookline for the year. In 2017, there were a total of 739 Part A Crimes, up 5.6% from 2016. Part A crimes include murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.

In 2017, there were reductions in every Part A crime other than larceny and motor vehicle theft (and murder of which there has been none since 2007) when compared to 2016. Rapes were down 33% (from 6 to 4), robberies were down 42% (from 12 to 7), assaults were down 3% (from 135 to 131), burglaries were down 6% (from 64 to 60), larcenies were up 11% (from 476 to 527) and motor vehicle thefts were up 43% (from 7 to 10). For 2017, total violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and assault) are down 7% with 142 this year versus 153 in 2016 and total property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) are up 9% with 597 this year versus 547 in 2016. In 2017, crime was down 67% from where it was in 1994 and is the second lowest year in that time.

The increase in crime for 2017 can be primarily attributed to thefts, most of which are crimes of opportunity – such as thefts of packages in unlocked foyers, thefts from unlocked motor vehicles and bikes. These thefts are often perpetrated by addicts in need of money to support their habit. Brookline is not immune to the opioid crisis we are seeing across America. In 2017, there were 26 reports of overdoses in Brookline, 17 of which indicated opiate usage. Narcan was administered 14 times and there were three deaths. The Brookline Police Department is part of the National Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), and we are able to connect people to treatment when they are ready to accept help. In addition to carrying Narcan in our cruisers, we have Overdose Response Kits that have been provided by the District Attorney’s Office which can be distributed to overdose patients or their loved ones.

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Of the 739 Part A crimes reported in 2017, there were 123 cases cleared by arrest, 80 cleared by court action, 43 cleared exceptionally, 14 closed by completed service, 3 cleared by referral and 1 was closed by other means, resulting in a 36% clearance of crimes for the year. Specifically, 100% of rapes, 57% of robberies, 86% of assaults, 25% of burglaries, 24% of larcenies and 0% of motor vehicle thefts were all cleared by arrest, court action, cleared exceptionally, completed service, referral, or closed. Please note that many of the 739 active cases are still under investigation and may be cleared/closed as a result. Additionally, many prior year cases were cleared/closed during this period as a result of on-going investigations.

During the year, there were 360 arrests made, down 20% from 2016. This volume of arrests is indicative of the great efforts of the officers in the field. Additionally, this decline in arrests corresponds with the decrease in crime and signifies that our efforts to put resources in the areas they will have the greatest impact has been successful. This decline also represents our commitment to divert youth from the criminal justice system when practicable and also to work residents in crisis to get them the help they need. Through our Crisis Intervention Team, we are assigning officers to be “case workers” for people who are struggling with mental illness, drug/alcohol dependency and/or other factors which require a social service response, in the hopes we can reduce the re-occurrence of a law enforcement intervention.

In 2017, there were a total of 48 field interrogations conducted. In the area of traffic enforcement, there were 14,938 moving violations issued to motorists on Brookline’s roads and a total of 117,606 parking tickets were issued, totaling $1.8 million in fines and penalties. Additionally, during this year, officers responded to more than 71K calls for service.

The 2017 Mid-Year Race and Gender Report, which outlines four categories of interactions our officers have with the community, has also been completed and is attached for your review. As you will see, the Police Department continues to provide a high caliber of police service to the community while ensuring that race and gender bias are not a factor in the delivery of those services. The categories we examine are: arrests, field interrogations, moving violations and citizen complaints. We have included graphs which compare data for race and gender for arrests, field interrogations and moving violations over a three-year period. As you will see, there is incredible consistency from year to year in the percentage for each race and gender category.

It is also noteworthy that during the year, there were only two citizen complaints filed with the Office of Professional Responsibility which, when compared against the Department’s volume of documented community interactions (from 71K calls for service, 15K moving violations, 117K parking tickets, 48 field interrogations and 360 arrests) correlates to a 0.00002% rate of complaints (or 1 in every 100K documented interactions). This figure does not even include the thousands of daily, informal interactions our officers have during traffic posts, walking beats, community presentations and routine patrol.

Throughout the year, the Department has been successful in maintaining our level of service to the community through a variety of ongoing and new initiatives. The Patrol Division, under the direction of Deputy Superintendent Andrew Lipson, continued to encourage officers to get out of their cruisers and into the community in proactive, positive ways. In 2017, we have asked that officers from all Divisions participate in local programs, to attend community meetings and to be visible and engaged with residents at playgrounds, in commercial areas and around parts of Town where people congregate. The Department has officers assigned on a daily basis to our nine public housing complexes. We have officers working with the Teen Center to foster relationships with the underserved and youth of the community. Members of the Department regularly assist at our local food pantry and host clothing/houseware drives for local families in need. Our officers participate in all major community events, attend local fairs and school programs, and

2017 Annual Report are deployed for major events like the Boston Marathon and Sail Boston. We assign officers on bikes and to walking routes to have a visible and approachable presence in the community.

The Community Service Division, under the direction of Deputy Superintendent Michael Gropman, continues to offer various programs, such as the AWARE program and RAD, which greatly enhance the safety of our residents. The Brookline CERT program also continues to recruit, train and deploy its 250+ volunteers who are on call to assist the Town during local emergencies. Our officers also continue to work with the schools, other Town agencies and local service providers to improve the quality of life for residents.

This spring, coordinated by the CSD Training Division and the BPD Diversity Committee, members of the Department participated in a field trip as part of our annual in-service training program which included a tour of the Museum of African American History and the West End House Museum. The training also included a discussion of forced busing in the 1970s and how police, despite their personal views on the subject, were on the front line of enforcement. These trainings were part of our on-going police legitimacy/procedural justice discussions, and focused on how we are currently on the front lines of many controversial social and political issues of the day.

The Community Service Division has several officers trained in the Youth & Police Initiative (YPI). YPI is an interactive program designed to improve relationships between law enforcement and at-risk youth. YPI officers and youth work to foster positive relationships, to reduce criminal behavior and negative attitudes, and to educate police about concerns of the youth in their community. Helping to restore trust among at- risk youth, many of whom are minorities, is critical to our success as an agency committed to community policing. In May, the Community Service Division hosted its third round of the YPI Program and look forward to hosting another program in the Spring. Additionally, this year, the Community Service Division instituted a Youth Summer Program and the Explorers Program, both designed to engage youth, to introduce them to the field of law enforcement and to build positive, lasting relationships between police and young people of our community.

This past year, we have utilized the power of social medial to share human interest pieces about officers and the work they are doing day in and day out in Brookline. We have significantly increased our use of Facebook and Twitter, and in the last year added YouTube and Instagram to our social media outreach efforts. From the recruitment/outreach video we produced to various human interest stories to regular updates on crime, prevention and safety issues, the Department is committed to engaging our community and celebrating the variety of work our officers are doing.

On average, the Department tweets about 40-50 times per month, with a total of 6,011 tweets to date. We have also significantly increased our social media presence, with 3,317people following us on Facebook (up from 2,788 last January), 1,102 followers on Instagram (up from 638 last January) and 9,691 followers on Twitter (up from 8,919 last January). On a weekly basis, we have thousands of people visit the BPD’s social media outlets for news and current events and it has proven to be a valuable community education tool. In 2016, the Department initiated a Social Media Committee which has been focusing on finding new and interesting ways the BPD can interact with the community to share not only public safety information but also show what work we are doing in the community that people may not be aware of and introduce the community to the Department’s membership. Some examples of the BPD’s social media engagement efforts in 2017 include: a month long celebration of female officers and dispatchers during March in recognition of National Women’s History Month, a celebration of Hispanic and Latino officers during National Hispanic Heritage Month, a Movember Project post in support of men’s health, officers attending various trainings such as child seat safety and crisis intervention, and pictures of officers throughout their days engaging with the community at programs like the Brookline Police Explorers, Brookline CERT

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trainings, Coffee with a Cop, the BPD Summer Youth Program, the Brookline Food Pantry and attending Brookline Day.

The Patrol Bike Unit (PBU), which started in 2010 and consists of 10 officers from various Divisions throughout the Department, continues to work in full force providing education on the bicycle laws and conducting enforcement. The BPD believes that enforcement and education is critical to improving bicycle safety and providing a safe environment for bicyclists and motorists in Brookline. In addition to educating and enforcing bicycle safety, the PBU officers conduct regular patrol functions such as responding to crimes, solving problems and serving as a visible and approachable officer on the street. The Patrol Bike Unit Supervisors, Sergeants Andrew Amendola and Brian Sutherland, have participated regularly in the Bike Advisory Committee monthly meetings to discuss enforcement activities, recent crashes involving bicycles in traffic and to hear concerns from the cycling community as to areas of concern. In 2017, the PBU was activated to provide assistance and security with several regional events, such as the Boston Marathon, the 2017 Sail Boston event, the New England Patriots Super Bowl game and the Super Bowl Victory Parade. Also this year, members of the PBU also attended riot control training with the Boston Police Bike Unit.

Throughout 2017, the Special Response Team (SRT), which consists of 15 officers from various division, has continued its extensive training and readiness for critical incidents. During the year, the SRT was activated twice - for the 121st Boston Marathon and as part of a mutual aid operation to Chelsea PD during a barricaded subject incident. This year, the SRT procured a new vehicle for rapid scene response which provides added protection to occupants with ballistic resistant doors and secure equipment storage. The leadership from the team attended the annual National Tactical Officers Association conference which focused on trends in policing and debriefs from the recent Dallas Police Shooting, the Pulse Night Club active shooter, and other major police incidents nationwide.

In 2017, the Detective Division saw many successes. Under the direction of Deputy Superintendent Stephen Burke, the Division continued to conduct numerous complex and sophisticated investigations. In 2017, a total of 1,310 cases were assigned for follow-up by Detectives. These include both Part A and Part B crimes, many of which are multifaceted investigations involving numerous technological components. Thus, the Division continues to train its officers in the most advanced investigative techniques and to work with community partners and outside agencies to identify regional crime problems and identify suspects.

In June, a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission spent several days examining the Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities to determine our readiness for re-accreditation. Verification by the Assessment Team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain state Accreditation -- a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the Department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 65% of the optional standards. In July, a team returned for our final assessment in the re-accreditation process, which was successful. As part of this process, the Department has reviewed and made significant changes to our policies and procedures. The Department’s revised Policies and Procedures Manual was accepted by the Select Board in June and are now available on the BPD website.

In July, the Department made four promotions. Sergeant Michael Raskin was promoted to Lieutenant and is now the Patrol Commander of the 3rd Platoon. Sergeant Jennifer Paster was promoted to Lieutenant and is assigned as the Accreditation Manager and Crisis Intervention Team supervisor. Traffic Officer John

2017 Annual Report

Canney was promoted to Sergeant and is assigned as a Patrol Supervisor for the 3rd Platoon. Patrol Officer Robert Teahan was promoted to Sergeant and is also a Patrol Supervisor for the 3rd Platoon.

The 2017 Brookline Police Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 9th at Town Hall. This year’s award recipients were: Officer Sean Williams - Commendation Medal, Officer Joseph Amendola - Commendation Medal, Officer Tim Stephenson - Public Service Medal, and Officer Kristin Healy was named Police Officer of the Year. Additionally, this past spring, Officer Tim Stephenson was awarded the 2017 Teen Impact Award by the Brookline Teen Center. In May, Officer Michelle Lawlor received a special recognition award from the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE) for her community policing efforts over the last year. It is wonderful to see our officers recognized by the community for the work they do. Throughout the year there were 29 commendations for outstanding police work issued to a total of 46 officers, with 13 of those officers receiving more than one commendation for multiple examples of excellence. These awards, commendations and the many informal expressions of gratitude show that, despite national tensions, the Brookline Police are truly working in partnership with Brookline’s residents to reduce fear and crime and improve the quality of life in our Town.

Day after day, Brookline police officers display outstanding performance in a variety of situations and consistently demonstrate their commitment to providing the highest quality of police service to the public. With professionalism and expertise, we continue to build relationships with citizens in order to improve personal safety, protect individual’s rights and property, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment to keep our citizens safe and aware. As we move forward, we will continue to work to improve the services we provide to the community. Thank you for your continued support of the Police Department and our mission. I look forward to discussing the attached reports with you.

Year End Review of 2017 Part A Crimes

The following is a summary of Part A Crimes in Brookline during 2017. Violent Crime 2016 to 2017 Comparison Part A crimes include: murder, 180 rape, robbery, assault and battery, 160 burglary, larceny and motor 140 vehicle theft. 120 Crimes 100 During 2017, there were a total of 80 739 Part A crimes in Brookline, up Violent

5.6% from the 700 Part A crimes in of 40 # 2016. Of the 739 crimes reported 20 in 2017, there were 123 cases 0 cleared by arrest, 80 cleared by 2016 2017 court action, 43 cleared Assault 135 131 exceptionally, 18 cleared other Robbery 12 7 means (completed service, in- Rape 64 active, referral), resulting in a 36% Murder 00 clearance of crimes for the year.

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In 2017, there were reductions in every Part A crime other than larceny and motor vehicle theft Property Crime 2016 to 2017 Comparison 700 when compared to 2016. Rapes were down 33% (from 6 to 4), 600 robberies were down 42% (from 12 500 Crimes to 7), assaults were down 3% (from 400 135 to 131), burglaries were down 300 6% (from 64 to 60), larcenies were Property

200

up 11% (from 476 to 527) and of

# 100 motor vehicle thefts were up 43% 0 (from 7 to 10). 2016 2017 For 2017, total violent crimes MV Theft 710 (murder, rape, robbery and Larceny 476 527 assault) are down 7% with 142 this Burglary 64 60 year versus 153 in 2016 and total property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) are up 9% with 597 this year versus 547 in 2016. In 2017, crime was down 67% from where it was in 1994 and is the second lowest year in that time.

The following graph shows decline in crime over the last 24 years.

2017 Annual Report

The following is a breakdown of each Part A crime for 2017:

Murder

There were no murders in 2017. There have been no murders in Brookline since 2007.

Rape – Down 33%

During 2017, there were 4 rapes reported, down from the 6 reported in 2016. Out of these 4 rapes, 2 of them have resulted in an arrest, 1 was closed administratively and 1 is completed service.

As the chart shows, the fifteen-year average of rape cases reported is 5 per year.

Robbery – down 42% Status of 2017 Robbery Cases There were 7 robberies in 2017, which is down 42% from the 12 robberies reported during 2016. Of these 7 robberies, 3 resulted in an arrest, 1 in court action and 3 remain active. Active These robberies occurred at banks (4), at a 22% residential building (1), and stores (3) Total

50% Arrest 21%

Court 7%

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Assaults – down 3%

There were a total of 131 assaults reported in 2017, down from the 135 that occurred in 2016. Of these 131 assaults, 44% (57) were domestic violence related and 4% (5) were assaults on police officers. Additionally, 12% (16) of our assaults occurred at one of the three residential mental health facilities in Town.

Of the 131 assault cases, 69 (53%) resulted in arrests, 38 (29%) resulted in court action, 5 (4%) were cleared as completed service, 1 (1%) was referred to an outside agency and 18 (14%) remain active.

Burglaries – Down 6%

There were a total of 60 burglaries in 2017. This is down 6% from the 64 burglaries in 2016 and down 53% from the 128 burglaries in 2015. Of the total 60 burglaries, 52 (87%) were of residential properties and 8 (13%) were of nonresidential buildings, including schools and commercial establishments.

Of the total 60 burglaries, 45 (75%) cases remain active, 5 (8%) resulted in an arrest, 6 (10%) resulted in court action, 3 (5%) were cleared exceptionally and 1 was cleared through completed service (2%).

Larceny – Up 11% Case Status of 2017 Assault Cases

Service There were a total of 527 larcenies in 2017, up 11% from Referral Complete the 476 larcenies that occurred in 2016. Of the 527 1% 4% larcenies, 399 (76%) cases remain active, 44 (8%) resulted in arrests, 35 (7%) were cleared by court action, 40 (8%) were cleared exceptionally, 2 (<1%) were Active cleared by referral and 7 (1%) were closed through 14% completed service. Court Action Of the total 527 larcenies, package thefts were the most 29% prevalent larceny with 101 (19% of total larcenies), following by car breaks with 85 (16%), bike thefts with 84 (16%) and shoplifting with 83 (16%). Arrest 52%

2017 Annual Report

101 2017 Larcenies By Type

85 84 83

55 43

26 17 12 665 4

Motor Vehicle Theft – Up 43%

There were 10 motor vehicles reported stolen in 2017, which is up 43% from the 7 reported in 2016. All 10 cases remain active. One of the stolen motor vehicles was a motorcycle.

250 222 Motor Vehicle Thefts By Year 200

150 135 120 113 104 92 100

54 44 50 40 25 21 22 15 14 20 11 11 7 10 0 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

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Police Activity

Arrests – During 2017, there were 360 arrests, down 20% from the 448 arrests made in 2016. One of the arrestees was a juvenile, down from 13 juvenile arrests in 2016. There were also four people taken into protective custody and three sex offenders were registered. Please refer to the Race and Gender Report on the BPD website for more information on 2017 arrests.

Field Interviews – Commencing with the beginning of 2015, the Department began to breakdown what we had previously classified as Field Interviews into two subsets: Field Contacts & Field Interrogations. Field Contacts cover those individuals who the police encounter during the normal course of conducting routine police services that we need to identify. Field Interrogations are individuals stopped by the police whom the police or citizens believe to be acting suspiciously and rise to the level of suspicion that they have, are or are about to commit a criminal offense. In 2017, there were a total of 48 field interrogations conducted, the same number as conducted in 2016. Please refer to the Race and Gender Report on the BPD website for more information on 2017 field interviews.

Moving Violations – In 2017, there were 14,938 moving violations issued, down 8% from 2016 when there were 16,298 moving violations issued. In 2017, there were no non-inventory motor vehicle searches conducted.

Parking Tickets – During 2017, there were 117,606 parking violations issued for a total of $3,864,323 in fines and penalties. This number is down 12% from the 133,127 parking violations issued during 2016.

Calls for Service – During 2017, there were 71,044 police calls entered into the CAD system. This number includes activities such as service calls, 911 responses, self-initiated police activity, traffic enforcement and posts, prisoner processes, services of papers/warrants, admin/report writing, town building checks and community policing activities and excludes activities such as out of services and reporting on/off duty. For 2017, calls for service are up 3% from the 69,215 calls in 2016.

Citizen Complaints – During 2017, there were two citizen complaints filed against two Brookline Police Officers for 1) general misconduct (mediated between the two parties) and 2) discourtesy/rudeness (unfounded based on audio/video recording of incident).

Use of Force – During 2017, there were 40 use of force incidents. Use of force incidents are in 2017 from the 18 that occurred in 2016 and 35 in 2015.

The types of force used in 2017 included (with multiple types of force being applied in three incidents): Firearm (pointed) – 8, Baton (control technique/not strike) – 1, Less Lethal Weapon (displayed/pointed only) – 3, Less Lethal (discharged) – 1, and Physical (hands/grab/wrestle) – 32.

17 of these use of force situations were during the process of placing a noncompliant individual under arrest, 4 involved suicidal females with mental health conditions that required assistance being involuntarily transported for an evaluation, 5 involved combative residents of one of the Town’s mental health facilities, 4 were of an intoxicated (drugged/drunk) person who became combative, 2 were of a person in need of a mental health evaluation who was combative, 1 was a youth fleeing the police station, 1 was a report of a man with a gun, 1 involved a subject with mental health who barricaded themselves, 1 involved an out of control student with special needs who needed to be restrained, 1 involved subjects who refused to come out of hiding during the service of a warrant, 1 involved a man with mental health who assaulted an officer, 1 involved an out of control youth who was assaulting family members and 1 was during a mutual aid motor vehicle stop for another police department of a subject who entered Brookline.

2017 Annual Report

The Department defines use of force as any force beyond compliant handcuffing. This includes numerous situations where a show of force is made by officers but no physical force or contact applied. Additionally, this includes uses of force in non-criminal situations, such as assisting emotionally disturbed persons to safety. Reporting use of force incidents is required of officers and incident reports cannot be approved without an officer filling in mandatory field in the report writing system which indicates if force was used. Additionally, supervisors are required to submit a report detailing whether or not officers followed proper policy and procedure while applying force. These reports were completed in all 2017 use of force incidents and officers were found to have been in compliance.

Motor Vehicle Pursuits – In 2017, there were three motor vehicle pursuits, up from none in 2016. All three involved subjects on scooters who failed to stop. In all three cases, the low speed does not qualify as a motor vehicle pursuit to Department policy. These cases are being reported for completeness as the operators were operating so as to evade police.

Clearances – Of the 739 Part A crimes reported in 2017, there were 123 cases cleared by arrest, 80 cleared by court action, 43 cleared exceptionally, 14 closed by completed service, 3 cleared by referral and 1 was closed by other means, resulting in a 36% clearance of crimes for the year. Specifically, 100% of rapes, 57% of robberies, 86% of assaults, 25% of burglaries, 24% of larcenies and 0% of motor vehicle thefts were all cleared by arrest, court action, cleared exceptionally, completed service, referral, or closed. **Please note that many of the 739 active cases are still under investigation and may be cleared/closed as a result. Additionally, many prior year cases were cleared/closed during this period as a result of on-going investigations.

2017 Case Clearances 600 500

400

300 200 100

0 MV Murder Rape Robbery Assault Burglary Larceny Theft Other 0100000 Referral 0001020

Service Complete 0105170 Cleared Exceptionally 00003400 Court Action 0 0 1386350

Arrest 0 2 3695440 Active 0 0 3 18 45 399 10

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Detective Division

The Detective Division had another successful year. In 2017, a total of 1,310 cases were assigned for follow-up. In some instances, more than one Detective was assigned to a case for follow-up, depending on the complexity. Assignments include both Part A and Part B crimes, attempted crimes and other reported incidents which may not have amounted to a crime but are followed-up nevertheless. We continue to see criminal activity involving the use of technology, social media and the internet which allows criminals to hide their identities. This presents challenges to the investigating detectives. As criminal use of technology increases, it is necessary for investigating officers to acquaint themselves with the current technology procedures that promote safety and the preservation of evidence necessary for successful prosecutions.

Significant Incidents

Bank Robberies – The Town incurred a number of Bank Robberies in 2017. Separate individuals were identified through investigation and subsequently charged in the five incidents

Intelligence Sharing – In addition to the above Brookline bank robberies, Detectives worked jointly with the F.B.I. Bank Robbery Task Force on investigations and provided vital information which resulted in subjects being arrested for numerous bank robberies in the City of Boston.

Brookline Detectives also provided intelligence to Boston Detectives following a series of violent street robberies of elderly city residents in April 2017. The intelligence provided led to an identification of the suspect from video during one of the robberies. The suspect has an extensive and violent criminal history involving robbing the elderly.

Brookline Detective’s continuously works with Federal, State and local law enforcement partners in cross jurisdictional criminal investigations and crime trends.

Commercial Burglaries – In September 2017, a dining establishment in Brookline was burglarized and a large amount of cash was stolen from a safe. It appeared that a proficient crew committed the crime. Detectives reached out to other communities and learned many had incurred similar crimes. Through exhaustive investigation involving the review of video and using other technology resources, suspects were developed. An informal Task Force involving Brookline, Boston, and Mass State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office along with law enforcement from other communities was formed to surveil and monitor the suspects. The lengthy investigation determined an organized criminal group were committing

2017 Annual Report burglaries into restaurants after business hours and smashing cash boxes and safes for money or forcibly removing safes from the businesses. The investigation revealed the highly organized crew conducted their crimes all over Eastern Massachusetts. The crimes resulted in losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and physical damage to the businesses. The organized crew proved themselves to be very skilled often completing their crimes in three minutes or less from break-in to get away.

The initiative taken by the Brookline Detectives and the development of the informal task force spawned the investigation. Investigators were able to utilize technological resources including the town CIMS cameras, GPS tracking devices, knowledge, and skills to build their case. Ultimately the investigation resulted in multiple arrests and search warrants which resulted in the discovery of evidence to support prosecution. Additionally, a firearm and hundreds of stolen packages were recovered during the searches.

Business Email Compromise Scam – Brookline Detectives working in conjunction with the F.B.I. and private banking institutions were successfully able to prevent the wire transfer of $2 million in a Business Email Compromise Scam. A criminal scammer hacked in to the email account of a legitimate individual. A spoofed email was then generated by the scammer authorizing the wire transfer of funds from the legitimate enterprise to an overseas bank where the scammer had secured an account. The legitimate enterprise caught on to the scam and notified our Department. Due to the quick reporting and immediate action by Brookline Detectives and the assistance of the F.B.I and representatives from banking institutions, the scam was averted.

Domestic Violence Unit

The Domestic Violence Unit was involved in the investigation of 91 cases during 2017. These included follow-up investigations on arrests, restraining order violations and allegations of domestic abuse. Additionally, they regularly provided resources and referrals to a number of victims and their families. The Unit also worked in coordination with the Brookline Schools on numerous incidents involving students and juvenile issues. The Domestic Violence Unit spearheaded a first of its kind event at a Public High School with a showing of Escalation, an impacting short movie which addresses domestic violence in dating relationships. The Unit worked in coordination with B.H.S. Administration and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office in presentation of the showing. The movie was first shown to the parents of the senior class and later all members of the senior class at B.H.S.

98 restraining orders were issued by the Brookline District Court in 2017. The Domestic Violence Unit works in liaison with the victim witness advocate from the District Attorney’s office in restraining order hearings and cases.

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Crime Detection / Prevention Initiative

Brookline like many municipalities has seen a trend of delivered packages left at residences, mainly multi-unit buildings being stolen. In 2017, the Detective Identification Unit in coordination with our Crime Analyst continued to deploy a “bait package” to identified package theft hot spots in an effort to detect and prevent package theft. The “bait package” is a GPS based property decoy system similar to the “Bait Bike” program which has been successful for the department. The “Bait Package” works by hiding a GPS locator within a package and leaving the package in the identified hot spot area. The package can be left out for multiple days. Residents of the targeted locations are notified and asked not to move the package. The GPS is programmed to activate on movement and a notification is sent via text messaging indicating the package is moving. The Brookline Dispatch Center can then begin a tracking program and track the unit in real time while directing cruisers to its location. The Department had success with the “bait package” unit in 2017 resulting in prosecution for larceny.

Town Counsel Liaison / Intelligence Detective

The Town Counsel Liaison was assigned 52 cases in 2017. Primarily these cases involved accidents involving Town vehicles and property. Utilizing a more streamlined process a significant amount of monies due to the Town was recovered. In addition, this Detective works in the intelligence unit. The intelligence unit participates daily in a conference call with the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC) where information on criminal activity and crime trends is shared with participating Law Enforcement Agencies, College/University Police Departments, Federal Agencies, and Mass Department of Correction Facilities.

Training

Detectives, in addition to their regularly scheduled in-service training, frequently attend specialized training to develop their skills and assist them in their investigations. Some of the highlight trainings attended in 2017 included: Juvenile Investigations, Crisis Negotiation, Homicide Investigation, Anti-Terrorism, Crisis Intervention, Opioid Addiction, Marijuana Legal Updates, Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Cell Phone Tracking, Digital Evidence & Information Extraction, Cop-Link (intelligence resource gathering), Sexual Assault Investigations, Hate Crime Investigations, Fingerprinting Identification, Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, Cyber Crimes & Digital Evidence, Firearms Legal Updates, Advanced Identity Theft, Transitional Organized Crime & Terrorism.

Community Service Division

Community Service Officers

Throughout the year, community service officers addressed 51 abandoned bicycle complaints. This involves bicycles that are locked to items and appear to be abandoned. The officers ticket the bike and if it is in violation of the Town By-law, the bicycle will be removed. Officers also presented at several schools and conducted safety drills per policy. Every school went through a series of notifications and evacuations.

2017 Annual Report

During the annual college move-in days from August 31st to September 1st, community service officers patrolled various neighborhoods and distributed copies of the Town’s noise by-law. This proactive approach has been a substantial component of our education and enforcement success. Students and parents get to meet officers and are informed about our aggressive enforcement to keep partying down and address other quality of life concerns. Additionally, this interaction also serves as a time to assist and assure parents of the services we have to offer as a town.

This year, the Community Service Division held our annual Brookline Public Safety Day with Brookline Youth Hockey, the Brookline Fire Department and Fallon Ambulance. This is a day where police & fire personnel get to work with youth hockey players while still in uniform.

Additionally, the Community Service Division and its officers oversaw multiple events throughout the year. These events include but were not limited to the 2nd annual Hockey Tournament, the 2nd annual Porchfest Music Festival and the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival. Similarly, we also assisted with the annual Town of Brookline street hockey tournament by overseeing activities during the June event. During Porchfest, thousands of people visited Brookline to listen to music and attend the different locales and events occurring that day.

AWARE Program

The AWARE program involves lessons on Citizenship, Healthy Relationships, Substance Abuse, Cyber-Safety Bullying and Student Empowerment. During the school calendar year for 2017-2018, Aware Officers began teaching a new cyber- bullying presentation in all 8 of the Brookline elementary schools. The cyber-bulling section was already in place; however, it decided that it should be changed to deliver the message in a different way to the students. The presentation was rolled out for all the middle school students this current school year. These various programs are offered as a set curriculum that begins in 6th grade in Science class and ends in 8th grade in Health class. AWARE Officers teach specific classes to the 6th-8th grade.

The current 17-18 school year the officers are attempting to make themselves more available into the younger grades for less structured visits. At the fourth grade level, the officers have been asked to address the cyber concerns due to the fact the students were getting school assigned PSBMA accounts, and issues are arising.

The officers are currently CIT trained for the department, and follow up on the juvenile CIT clients. They are working with the schools, families and the Brookline Center to offer services and supports for the student. The officers are working on developing a stronger relationship with the school administration to ensure lines of communication are open.

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Data and Statistics

 The following data is for 2017 and is tracked by the division.

 The Department addressed 124 Snow Complaints and issued 8 By-law tickets

 The Department responded to 688 noise/loud party complaints and issued 17 violations for violation of the Noise By-law

 The Department investigated 75 calls related to leaf blowers and issued 3 By-law tickets

Walk & Talk Unit

2017 proved to be a very busy year for the Walk & Talk Officers. Once again, as they have done since 2015, they partnered with other local departments and took part in the Youth Police Initiative (YPI). This program helps build positive ties between police and youth. In addition to attending other departments YPI programs, they hosted two YPI programs here in Brookline for the youths from Brookline Housing Authority developments.

In addition to the YPI program, the Walk & Talk Officers spearheaded a one week Summer Youth Program. During this program, which was held at the end of August, the youths went on several field trips as well as receiving instruction, on various topics, at the police station. The goal of this program was to help the youths build their teamwork and decision making skills. In December. the Walk & Talk Officers hosted a holiday dinner at Brookline High School for all of their YPI and Summer Youth Program youths and their families.

During the course of the year, the Walk & Talk Officers were involved with numerous community groups and events. They participated in the Brookline Diversity Committee sponsored Spring Fling and Food Truck Friday events. They assisted with Brookline PD recruitment events and with the annual town wide Bike Parade. Officers in this unit also helped coach Pop Warner Football and Special Olympics Baseball teams. In September, they teamed up with the Boston Police Department and are involved with a combined Brookline/Boston Police Explorers Program.

2017 Annual Report

The Walk & Talk Officers worked closely throughout the year with staff and faculty at both the Brookline Teen Center (BTC) and Brookline High School (BHS). They attended many BTC sponsored events and coordinated a 3 on 3 Youth vs Police basketball league. At BHS, these officers attended the weekly Roundtable Meeting with BHS Deans and Program Coordinators. These officers also hosted a program called Conversations with Cops (CWC) at the high school. This once a week program gave BHS students an opportunity, they otherwise might not have, to sit down and talk with or ask questions to police officers.

In June of this year, as part of the Community Service Division, the Walk & Talk Officers took a primary role instituting and coordinating the departments Juvenile Justice Program. Since its inception the program has had approximately 10 youths referred to it in lieu of going to court. In that time, three have successfully completed the program, four were referred to BHS for counseling and three are still in the program working towards their completion dates. During June and November, members of the Walk & Talk Unit, also being members of the area wide COBRA team, were assigned to special assignments in Boston. In June, they assisted with Sail Boston and in November, with the Free Speech Rallies.

Walk & Talk Officers also coordinated the removal of graffiti from over fifty locations throughout the town and worked with the DPW and local businesses to get a large amount of graffiti eradicated along River Road. In conjunction with the Patrol Division, they were able to identify and charge an individual with over 40 counts of Tagging the moniker “HAK” throughout the town.

Specialized training was also part of 2017 for the Walk & Talk Officers. In August, all three officers attended a School Officer Training class. Officer Stephenson attended a Critical Incident Stress Management class in December. In October, Officer O’Connor attended Firearms Instructor School. Both Officer O’Connor and Officer Lawlor attended Car Seat Installation class in in August.

The Walk & Talk Officers also received several awards in 2017 for their work and dedication to the department and the community. Officer Stephenson was awarded the Police Officer of the Year Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Massachusetts Chapter, the 2017 BTC Impact Award for is work with the youth of Brookline and the Brookline Police Departments Public Service Award in April 2107. Officer Lawlor received a Mentoring Award by the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE) and was a finalist for the Brookline Commission for Women’s 2017 Woman of the Year for her work.

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Social Media

The Community Service Division oversees social media for the Brookline Police Department. The Department has a website, Twitter account, Facebook page and a YouTube channel. Instagram was added to our social media platform in 2016. The Department currently has 3,317 people following us on Facebook (up from 2,788 last January), 1,102 followers on Instagram (up from 638 last January) and 9,691 followers on Twitter (up from 8,919 last January).

In 2016, the Department initiated a Social Media Committee which has been focusing on finding new and interesting ways the BPD can interact with the community to share not only public safety information but also show what work we are doing in the community that people may not be aware of and introduce the community to the Department’s membership. Some examples of the BPD’s social media engagement efforts in 2017 include: a month long celebration of female officers and dispatchers during March in recognition of National Women’s History Month, a celebration of Hispanic and Latino officers during National Hispanic Heritage Month, a Movember Project post in support of men’s health, officers attending various trainings such as child seat safety and crisis intervention, and pictures of officers throughout their days engaging with the community at programs like the Brookline Police Explorers, Brookline CERT trainings, Coffee with a Cop, the BPD Summer Youth Program, the Brookline Food Pantry and attending Brookline Day.

Elder Affairs

The Community Services Division assists the senior residents of Brookline. In 2017, we continued our commitment to senior life and the welfare of those 55 years of age and over. Officers work in the field implementing programs and teaching classes to help elders stay safe and help maintain a good quality of life. In 2017, the Community Service Division continued to provide seminars and classes on categories such as: Senior Safety, Scams - Protecting Elderly from being Victims, Elderly Driving, Self-Defense for Seniors, and conducted an Unused Medication Collection event.

Throughout the year, the CSD continued its partnership with the Town of Brookline Council on Aging and their efforts to identify and assist those seniors who need further assistance, including those seniors with advanced mental health concerns including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and hoarding issues. Some seniors are tracked through the department’s Crisis Intervention System for a better police response and on-going care.

2017 Annual Report

In 2017, the Community Service Division assisted over 100 elder citizens providing them with assistance obtaining further services, counseling, advice and suggestions, and community care taking issues.

Crime Analysis Unit

In 2017, the Crime Analysis Unit continued to identify and analyze emerging crime patterns and trends in Brookline, as well as, identify and analyze quality of life and traffic crash concerns. The Unit, staffed by a sworn officer and a part-time civilian/intern, produces weekly COMPSTAT reports which cover recent crimes, developing crime/quality of life problems, notable case overviews, traffic crash analysis and information on repeat interactions and/or interactions with those at risk. Additionally, the Crime Analysis Unit produces regular crime bulletins and special analytical reports on topics such as bike thefts, package thefts, car breaks, residential burglaries, bike crash analysis, racial diversity training, crimes/calls in Brookline Housing, on college campuses and in specific neighborhoods, and mid-year and year-end statistical reports.

In 2017, the Crime Analysis Unit produced 50 COMPSTAT reports, 134 At-Risk profiles and 51 crime bulletins. The crime analyst also presented dozens of times to local organizations on crime, safety, and emergency preparedness.

The Crime Analyst also sits on the Town’s Emergency Management Team and assists in the advancement of emergency preparedness efforts Town wide. The Crime Analyst co-coordinates the Town’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) which has over 250 community members who are trained and prepared to assist emergency personnel during local crises. In the fall, new volunteers were recruited for the CERT program and a 10-week certification training was held. Additionally, in response to several high profile active shooter incidents this past fall, the crime analyst presented to numerous religious, school and town organizations on situational awareness and emergency preparedness in the event of a similar incident in Brookline.

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The Crime Analyst supports the CSD on multiple levels, including regularly conducting social media outreach, writing grant applications, updating the Department website and assisting with recruitment efforts to attract more culturally diverse candidates. The Crime Analyst also works to promote relationships between the police and the community with activities such as assisting with the coordination of the Food Truck Friday and Pre-Spring Community Fling events, unloading food from trucks and stocking shelves at the Brookline Food Pantry on a regular basis, being a point of contact for local families in need of clothing, food, school supplies and housewares, serving on multiple working groups and representing the Department as a Town of Brookline Ambassador.

The Crime Analyst sits on the Department’s Diversity Committee and the Social Media Committee and has spearheaded several campaigns on the Department’s social media sites this year to introduce the community to many programs we provide, to promote the work being done by officers on and off the job, and to celebrate the rich cultural diversity within the Department, such as posting profiles of female officers during the month of March for National Women’s History month and of Hispanic officers during the National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Training Division

In 2017, the Training Division continued to adjust our curriculum to meet and/or exceed Massachusetts Police Training Council standards as well as meet the needs of our Department’s Accreditation requirements. Several officers attended national training sessions focused on Use of Force and a new national model, the National Decision Making Model, which was adapted by our Department in March.

The National Decision Making Model is a risk assessment framework, or decision making process, that is used by police forces across the country. It provides five different stages that officers can follow when making any type of decision. This model has been integrated into our trainings since March.

In February, all of the Department’s sergeants, lieutenants and deputies took part in the Myers Briggs MBTI assessment. The MBTI instrument is a popular training tool for professional development and organizational improvement in all kinds of organizations. MBTI results provided supervisors with helpful feedback about themselves and how they are different from others. The test provided information for conflict management, performance improvement, employee coaching, and for management development.

In February, several Community Service Officers attended a “Building Better Schools and Police Relationships to improve outcomes for Children and Youth.” The officers have taken this training and have since been applying the skills learned to situations that arise in the Brookline Public Schools.

In March, officers were given in-house training on transgender Individuals. Diversity Training was also provided to officers, and was conducted by Dr. Cox. The Diversity Training included a field trip to the West

2017 Annual Report

End Museum as well as the Museum of African American History. This training was very well received by all that attended. Also in March, all officers received refreshers/updates on multiple department policies and procedures, a review of the All Hazards Plan, a review on our policy and risks associated with shooting at moving vehicle’s, prisoner handling and using stop sticks.

In May, officers took a variety of online classes in compliance with the MPTC yearly requirements such as, First Aid, Legal updates, Police and Youth, Dynamics of Addiction and Dealing with Persons with Alzheimer’s. In July, officers attended the Boston Police firing range for annual re-qualification. Both Pistol and 40 MM less lethal were trained. Movement drills, malfunctions, target assessment and safe weapon handling were covered. In October, the night firing range training was conducted and included qualification on department issued firearms and the pepper ball launcher. The use of flashlights while firing, single handed shooting and movement drills were also covered.

This past fall, the CSD Training Division began to conduct Roll Call Trainings. These trainings consist of videos, approximately 3-5 minutes in length, that are shown to officers prior to the start of their shifts. Roll call training allows for a variety of topics to be learned or refreshed upon. Five roll call trainings have been conducted as of this date: Federal Immigration Update, Fentanyl Safety, Procedural Justice, Weapon Safety and Police Interactions with the Public during Motor Vehicle Stops.

Traffic & Records Division

The Traffic and Records Division has a variety of responsibilities that include data collection, money collections, traffic enforcement, Details, public records law processes and oversees special events within the Town. This report highlights some of the programs from this Division related to community policing and police/citizenry interaction, as well as a note on the overall parking enforcement improvements from this past year and collections from the Detail Office.

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Parking Control Enforcement

This past year, we implemented a contract with a new vendor for our handheld ticketing. This included going through the contractual process that delayed their eventual deployment. This was met with much dismay, to include periods of non-enforcement of parking meters, because of the technology problems we were having. By the end of the year, we appeared to have some consistency with the new company, but it is still a work in progress. We also experienced personnel shortages this past year and a significant decrease in overall personnel hours towards this task. This resulted in decreases to overall ticket production. However, it should be noted that the output had decreased to norms of annual ticket production pre-2015. We continue to implement a deployment system that was put in place in 2015, which has helped us make the best of a challenging situation.

Neighborhood Traffic Concerns

Complaints received from citizens relating to traffic problems in their neighborhoods are followed up by this Division. Studies are conducted to verify the issue and analyze data collected. This includes technologies that capture traffic data on specific roads. Data from past parking enforcement and accidents, if pertinent to the complaint, are also analyzed. Personnel are sent to address any parking or speeding concerns. In addition, a report is conducted with the above collected data. This data assists Traffic Division personnel in concluding what actions, if any, would address the concerns. This could include traffic enforcement measures or road design changes via the Transportation Department. An example of such were in the Warren Street area after neighbors requested we look at speeding and crosswalk violations. Another example was in the Button Village neighborhood, with cut through traffic having a major negative effect on the residents. Working with the DPW on posting signage and our Officers doing high volume traffic enforcement, the neighbors and the DPW have attested a significant decrease in cut through traffic.

Hot Spot Accident Locations

Accident prone locations are identified in the weekly COMPSTAT report and additional information is collected, along with data from accident reports to determine appropriate prevention and enforcement activities. High accident locations are chosen in an attempt to address the causation of such accidents. In addition to traffic enforcement, officers are sent to observe the locales in question. After a period of observation, they send recommendations to address potential crash factors to a supervisor. The supervisor is to follow up with Town agencies or external agencies to make recommendations. In addition, this COMPSTAT/accident information is used to assign officers to less prevalent accident locations, as well as to address accident causing behavior, citizen complaints and locales with new traffic control/design changes.

2017 Annual Report

Traffic Case Management System (TCMS)

The Traffic Case Management computer system is designed to assist in the communication and data collection sharing between Traffic Division personnel. Such entries include the aforementioned Hot Spots Accident Locations and the Neighborhood Traffic Concerns. In addition, it tracks the recovery process of delinquent Detail payments and it also accounts for personnel work load and performance.

Special Events

The annual ‘Boston Marathon’ is an intensive collaboration with many agencies and volunteer groups. The planning process is approximately 5 months long. We take lead in this event to provide a family friendly and safe event. We assist the Parks and Open Spaces Department in conducting ‘Brookline Day’, by providing community policing within the event itself, along with overseeing traffic and security operations. Over a dozen of these Special Events occur throughout the year and include other notable events such as the Veterans Day ceremonies, July 4th at Larz Anderson and Summit parks, Walk for Hunger, half marathons and others.

FAIP

We proactively collect traffic related data to account for Officers performance in regards to motor vehicle stops. This involves data analysis of who the Officers are interacting with on motor vehicle stops. The data collects information on gender and race. FAIP is a proactive system that includes accounting for possible deviations from established norms. It further accounts for supervision on any matter that may need addressing. The Traffic Division collects the data and highlights statistical deviations. Significant deviations are reviewed through the appropriate Chain of Command, including an annual review by the Office of Professional Responsibilities.

Records

The Division is charged with overseeing the Department’s records and archives. On a daily basis, we are the ‘keeper of records’ for the BPD. This past year saw the law on Public Records change and we have continued to make necessary adjustments to comply with these requirements. We have also made our website more user friendly and are attempting to add to the transparency of records that are already made public. We were assigned to a Moderator’s Committee on this subject matter and with the Committee’s assistance, we did a complete review on our information dissemination processes.

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Detail Office

Overall numbers for the Police Detail Office for 2017 versus 2016 are listed below:

2016 2017 Increase

#Details 11,421 13,122 15%

Hours 86,379 100,569 17%

Salary $3,909,930 $4,566,405 16%

Surcharge $339,882 $420,771 23%

Total $4,249,812 $4,987,176 17%

Patrol Division

Special Response Team (SRT)

The Brookline Police Special Response Team (SRT) is made up of 15 officers from various Divisions under the supervision of Commander Deputy Superintendent Lipson, Executive Officer Lieutenant Detective Ward, Squad Leaders Sergeant Amendola and Sergeant O’Neill.

Over the past year, the SRT was activated twice – to provide security during the 121st Boston Marathon and for a mutual aid request to Chelsea for an officer involved shooting. In 2017, two officers completed their one-year probationary status with the SRT. We had two team members leave the team, one due to his resignation to join the Boston Police Department and one for personal reasons.

This year, the Team received a new vehicle for rapid scene response. This vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe, is fully stocked with all the Team’s basic equipment and provides added protection with ballistic resistant doors and secures equipment storage.

The leadership from the Team attended the annual National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) conference. This conference focused on trends in policing and debriefs from the recent Dallas Police Shooting, the Pulse Night Club active shooter, and other major police incidents nationwide. The SRT has met all training goals for 2017, including range qualification, less lethal training, scenario-based training, and de-escalation training. Throughout the year, all team members attended additional training in first aid, less lethal weapons, and gas mask use. In the fourth quarter 2017, the Team trained for a week working on team building, less lethal capabilities, and a variety of other aspects to tactical training. In December 2017, the Team was trained in a new breaching technology by Safariland.

The Team is currently working on procuring more equipment, vehicles and training through different UASI grants through the approval of Deputy Superintendent Lipson. In 2018, the team plans to add more personnel, attend leadership training, attend the annual NTOA conference, and continue to build on the regional relationships it has have established. The Team has built a yearly training model for 2018 to ensure continued success.

2017 Annual Report

Bike Unit

Currently, the Brookline Police Bike Unit is made up of 19 Officers from various Divisions under the direction of Unit Commander Deputy Superintendent Lipson, and supervision of Sergeant Amendola and Sergeant Sutherland.

During the year, the Bike Unit was activated multiple times to provide security and regional assistance for the following: the 121st Boston Marathon, 2017 Sail Boston event, New England Patriot’s Super Bowl game, the New England Patriot’s Super Bowl parade, and multiple freedom of speech rallies on the common. The Bike Unit was also activated multiple times to provide security and assistance in support of the Patrol Division for the following events: In-town Bike Parade, Brookline Day, Brookline Village Day and other smaller, local and town events. We also participated in the “Cone Head” program this past year. This program is developed to encourage children under 13 to wear a bike helmet by rewarding them with a “ticket” for a free ice-cream at a local ice-cream parlor.

The team has had a few changes over the course of 2017. The team has added two new officers. These two members came to the Team bike certified and trained; having been previously certified in their respective police academies. The Team also attended a riot control training with the Boston Police Bike Unit and surrounding teams in the area.

In the last year, we have continued to build our relationship with the Commander of the Community Service Division, Deputy Superintendent Gropman, and have inserted some CSD officers into a number of our missions and activations listed above. Looking ahead, we hope to assist the town by any means necessary to enhance the safety of bike riders in Brookline.

Lastly, we continue to make strides to remain mission ready and continue our relationships with outside agencies to help support any mission if it should come our way.

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Liquor

From January 1 through December 31, 2017, forty-six (46) Administrative Inspections were conducted. Administrative inspections involve an inspection of the licensed premise to ensure compliance with State and Local laws, including required signage, training, etc. For those licensed establishments with outside seating, the inspection includes ensuring they meet the outdoor seating requirements. During the year, one hundred and fifty-one (151) one-day licenses were issued and fifty-three (53) special reports were completed (alteration of premises, entertainment licenses, manager changes, liquor investigations, new licenses, license transfers etc.).

In 2017, seven (7) warnings and five (5) fines were issued for violations which occurred during administrative inspections. The ABCC did not conduct any compliance checks in the Town during the calendar year. During the year, there were no liquor stings performed. The lack of age eligible qualified interns prevented the liquor office from completing compliance checks. It appears that we now have interns who can meet the age requirements, so there will be compliance checks done in the first quarter of this year. There were no outstanding liquor violations in 2017. One issue did occur at the beginning of 2017 at Barcelona Restaurant where a female patron was removed from the premises by police after being properly refused service by staff. The investigation revealed that the patron was not overserved and was refused service after showing signs of intoxication.

The staff person in the Town Administrator’s Office who handled liquor license requests for the retired at the end of 2017. The Liquor Officer met with her and they went over some items that they would like to change and update to streamline the licensing process, as well as provide more public information. Currently, when a request is presented to the Select Board office and forwarded to the police for vetting, any number of required documents can and are usually missing. This results in this office spending a great deal of time just trying to track down the correct required documentation to process the request. In 2018, we hope to streamline this process by updating the Town website with a checklist of required liquor documentation that must be included in any liquor request made to the Town.

Additionally, when incomplete requests are presented to Town Hall, if they do not include all of the required documentation, they will not be accepted and sent to the liquor office. They will be returned to the party making the request and not be accepted until they can present a full and complete package. We hope this will result in liquor requests being forwarded to the liquor officer that have all required documentation included, and allow a faster processing time. By placing more information on the Town website, it will be easier for anyone needing to make a liquor license or other type of request to have the correct information, as the Town has its own licensing requirements in addition to the State liquor laws.

In 2018, the Liquor Office is planning to host a liquor license seminar sometime during the Spring, as has been conducted in prior years.

Lodging

During the last six months of 2017, twenty-three holders of Lodging House licenses have been inspected. All were in compliance with postings and record keeping. In addition, the Lodging Officer conducted two background investigations for two different license holders because these license holders changed agents in the last six months.

2017 Annual Report

In 2017, the Lodging Office continued to receive inquiries from patrol officers, fire officials, Health Department inspectors and Building Department employees regarding Airbnb rentals, as well as some complaints about property owners who have been advertising online, leasing separate bedrooms and putting people previously unknown to each other in same apartments.

A Coolidge Corner residence is the most recent example another Town agency expressing concern about an illegal lodging house being operated by the resident owner. While most of these situations do not come under the Lodging House by-laws, the Town agency reported that they observed 6-8 rooms as having separate locks and that a resident came forward and told officials that each room is rented for $900 per month. Additionally, there was a concern expressed about the lack of a sprinkler system. The Lodging Office will follow-up with the owner and encourage them to apply for a license before taking any Court action.

The remaining 21 licensed lodging houses will be inspected in the spring.

Patrol Warrant Unit

The Patrol Warrant Unit (PWU) continues to be pro-active in initiating investigations independently and assisting with information sharing for other investigations including those conducted by the Detective Division. Our success in 2017 shows a good increase in two-way communication across Divisions, mainly both ways via the channel of Detective Division to Patrol Warrant Unit. A high goal for 2017 was set to have a 15% increase in warrant clearances compared to the overall 2016 statistics, this goal was met - with a near 28% increase in individuals targeted and a 43% in outstanding warrants cleared. With the addition of new proactive personnel, the PWU strives for a 10% increase on the 2017 numbers in 2018. Additional goals would be to devote some extended efforts into higher priority targets that may have been wanted for a long period of time and to continue with the use of technology in investigations, attending training to further our capabilities and knowledge, select targets strategically, strengthen working relationships with outside agencies, and continue to work towards the overall reduction of crime within the Town and Region by locating a number of those who are still wanted on outstanding warrants and still engaged in the commission of crimes.

In 2017, we continued to have a strong working relationship with the State Auditor’s Office – Bureau of Special Investigations (to assist in identifying fleeing felons who may be receiving state public assistance) as well as the US Postal Inspection Service. These resources have been of great assistance in furthering investigations for wanted subjects and locating them both inside and outside of the Town of Brookline.

The Patrol Warrant Unit has strengthened working relationships and continues to work closely the Boston Police Department Fugitive Unit, the MA State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the US Marshal’s Service conducting external sweeps and investigations, with investigations being conducted with all of the above agencies throughout the year.

For the majority of the second half of 2017, the Patrol Warrant Unit was comprised of 8 officers (Daniel Avila, Noah Brother, Brian Bridges, Kristin Healy, John Jennings, Michelle Lawlor, Michael O’Connor, and Robert Teahan - *Teahan until early July when promoted to the rank of Sergeant) and added 3 additional members in the middle of October (William Walker, Brian Gallagher, and Brian Sheehy). All 10 PWU officers are under the Supervision of Detective Sergeant Matthew McDonnell. The PWU officers represent all shifts and various divisions within the Department.

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When seeking additional officers to add to the PWU after a posting in June, a total of 11 officers put in to become a part of the Warrant Unit. A number of the officers were newer/probationary officers, but this should be taken as a positive sign of their desire to learn and be involved in additional facets and opportunities within the department.

The goals set forth in the PWU’s Mid-Year point – to add new personnel, conduct more external sweeps, and be proactive in researching and initiating investigations through the officers’ own initiation – have mostly been met with approval by the PWU Supervisor. In order to meet its goal to utilize technology in investigations, PWU officers attended a basic investigative Coplink training in January 2018 and some will be attending training on Social Media in Investigations in February 2018.

The total statistics of the Patrol Warrant Unit for the full year 2017 include the below in comparison to 2016:

‐ 92 subjects/individuals targeted or investigated (2016 – 72 subjects, 2015 – 63 subjects targeted/investigated) – 27.78% increase over 2016

‐ 162 separate outstanding warrants cleared either through arrest, turn-in by initiation of PWU such as calling subjects for minor offenses and requesting the clear their warrant otherwise we would initiate an arrest, or through investigation such as confirming a subject is in custody of the County, State, Federal custody possibly being held on other charges. (2016 – 113, 2015 – 103 separate outstanding warrants) – 43.36% increase over 2016

‐ The breakdown of the above 162 warrants is as follows; 61 by way of arrest, 13 turn-in, 21 by investigations. (2016 – 53 arrest, 8 turn-in, 11 by investigations; 2015 – 49 arrest, 2 turn-in, 12 by investigations)

‐ The outstanding warrants have been comprised of over 29 different issuing courts including Massachusetts District Courts, MA Juvenile Courts, Massachusetts Superior Courts, and a US District Court (2016 – 29, 2015 – 16)

We look forward to continued improvement and exceptional arrests going forward in 2018 that will support the overall goals of the Brookline Police Department as a whole and continue to contribute to the reduction of crime in the community. In looking at the reduction of violent crimes in Brookline in 2017, it is believed that the pro-active efforts of the Patrol Warrant Unit have contributed in part to this reduction.

Animal Control Unit

The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is very knowledgeable about animal control issues in Town. In 2017, the ACO handled 758 animal related calls and issued 72 By-Law Citations. The ACO spends a significant amount of time in designated “Green Dog Program” parks and practices Community Policing in the fair manner in which he interacts with dog owners and others using the park, answering their animal related questions and enforcing by-laws when needed.

The ACO makes himself available to respond to priority animal calls from home, and even when he is unable to respond, he is a great resource by phone. He writes timely reports, does a good job in court for animal related matters, and is good at communicating with the patrol supervisors regarding his day to day activity. He is consistently following up on cases or assisting patrol officers with incidents involving animals.

2017 Annual Report

Public Safety Dispatch Center

The Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center currently has a staff of twelve full-time Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers, three trainee Dispatchers, and one Chief Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher. One Dispatcher resigned and two Dispatchers have moved on to the Police and Fire Departments. As a result, three Dispatchers were hired in the 4th quarter of 2017.

The Dispatchers of the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center in 2017 were given many training opportunities provided by the Brookline Police and Fire Departments, totaling three hundred and forty initial and continuing education training hours. A major training highlight was when the entire staff was assigned to General Dynamics Information Technology’s facility in late February and early March to be trained in the Next Generation 911 system and learn about its new capabilities.

In September 2017, the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center was designated as a Wireless Direct Center capable of receiving wireless 911 calls intended for the Brookline PSAP directly rather than being transferred from Mass State Police and other wireless centers. This is a milestone accomplishment made possible by the new NG911 system and will enhance the speed and effectiveness of citizens who call 911 getting the help they need.

During 2017, the Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers of the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center had made 71,044 Police Computer Aided Dispatch Entries, 9,775 Fire Department CAD entries, and had assigned 6,018 Case Incident numbers. Also, throughout the year, there were 14,399 Emergency 911 calls that were received and processed from both landline and Wireless phones.

Below are the statistics covering January 1 – December, 31, 2017 for the number of Police, Fire, Ambulance/Medical, and 911 Calls that were received and dispatched by the Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers of the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center:

 CAD Entries: 79,244

 Police Calls: 71,044

 Fire Calls: 8,200 (includes all Medical Calls BFD responded to).

 Ambulance/Medical Calls: 4,655 (includes Medical Assists/Transports).

 911 Calls: 12,336

Crisis Intervention Team

The Department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is dedicated to helping those members of our community struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse disorders who come to the attention of law enforcement. When appropriate, instead of confronting and arresting a person who shows signs of emotional distress, CIT members are trained to de-escalate a crisis and assist clients into treatment instead of the criminal justice system.

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The CIT model includes a follow-up component to help the client stay on track with service providers so that they may continue to avoid involvement in the criminal justice system. Members of the CIT responded to approximately 900 calls involving someone with a mental health issue in 2017, and attempted to follow up on approximately 22 suspected opioid overdoses.

CIT officers actively worked to support 76 individuals with chronic and ongoing mental health or substance use disorders throughout 2017. This included not only responding to 911 calls for these individuals, but conducting follow-up visits and phone calls, coordinating with community resources and service providers, working with individuals and families to plan for safety in the event of a future crisis, and checking on wellness. Officers have shown flexibility, patience, and compassion in this work, resulting in positive outcomes where individuals who may in the past have fallen through the cracks are receiving the services they need. These efforts help build trusting relationships between the community and the Police Department in addition to helping individuals struggling with these conditions maintain safety and well-being in the community.

To become a member of the Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, officers must attend forty hours of CIT training, in addition to Mental Health First Aid and all required MPTC in-service training. In 2016, the Brookline Police Department became a host site for trainings due to a generous grant from the Department of Mental Health.

In 2017, the Brookline CIT-Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) held two 40-hour trainings, and trained a total of 71 police officers from the following agencies: Brookline, Boston, Boston University, Braintree, Dedham, Foxborough, Milton, Needham, Newton, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, Norwood, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood and Randolph.

As of December 2017 approximately 60% the Brookline Department has volunteered to attend this training and members of our CIT can be found across all ranks, divisions and shifts. Furthermore, throughout 2017, our Department worked closely with the Department of Mental Health to expand the capacity of our TTAC going forward, and additional grant funding allowed us to hire a full time Master’s level clinician and administrative assistant to assist officers with more complex cases, and to expand our capacity for training to offer six 40-hour trainings per calendar year. We continue to partner with NAMI-Massachusetts to host quarterly stakeholder meetings with our public and private sector partners, and to meet regularly with our partners at Brookline Community Mental Health, the Council on Aging, the Brookline Public Schools, the Brookline Housing Authority and our Office of Veterans Affairs as needed.

2017 Annual Report

Greater Boston Law Enforcement Critical Incident Stress Management Team

The Greater Boston Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team has been established as collaboration among ten police departments in the Greater Boston area, to include: Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Tewksbury, Watertown and Waltham for the purpose of supporting the officers within these police departments. The Team is a resource of specially trained officers who will serve as Peer Support and provide peer counseling to officers who have experienced a traumatic event or may be affected by a loss. Brookline PD CISM Team Members are: Lt. Jennifer Paster, Sgt. Chris Malinn, Sgt. John Canney, PO Peter Muise, PO Sean Williams, PO Tim Stephenson*, PO Kristin Healy* and Detective David Wagner* (BOLD indicates that these members received training in ADVANCED group crisis intervention in 2017, and an asterisk* indicates that these officers received initial GRN training in 2017).

Members of the CISM team can be activated 7 days a week, 24 hours a day without notice. Participating departments are urged to activate CISM following any of the “top ten” events: 1) Line of duty death, 2) Suicide of a colleague, 3) Injury or death of a child, 4) Victim known to the responder, 5) Discharge of a firearm, 6) Prolonged failed rescue, 7) Mass casualty incident, 8) Excessive media coverage of incident, 9) Administrative betrayal, and 10) Personal safety

During 2017, members of the Brookline Police Department CISM responded to ten incidents to support officers from surrounding communities, and called for support following one incident in 2017. Members of our own Department held informational defusing sessions following the untimely and unexpected death of Lieutenant June Murphy in May 2017.

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Fire Department Robert Ward, Chief

Administration Division

It is with great pride I present the 2017 annual report for the Brookline Fire Department. We are honored to serve each citizen and visitor in our community and we are very proud to deliver the highest level of Fire and EMS services possible. We are committed to excellence and we are focused on providing the best care possible in a quick and professional manner. We understand that providing outstanding customer service is why we exist and this remains the foundation of our fire department’s mission.

The Administrative Division consists of a Fire Chief, Chief of Operations, an Executive Assistant, and an Information Technology Systems Analyst. Additional administrative staff, shared with the Police Department, includes a Public Safety Business Manager and three clerical staff. The Division is responsible for both the day-to-day operations of the Fire Department as well as long range planning and budgeting. The office also interacts frequently with citizens and business owners, town, state and federal officials, other fire departments as well as other town departments.

There were 10 retirements in 2017. The Department also saw 12 permanent promotions including Robert Ward to Chief of the Department and Keith Flaherty to Chief of Operations.

Additionally, there were other notable activities which occurred during the past year, including, but not limited to;

 The purchase of 1 Engine and 1 Ladder Truck.  Graduated two recruit classes which included 16 Brookline Firefighters as well as multiple members from several other communities.  Actively recruited women and minorities in an attempt to diversify the department, through college and career fairs, networking with Women Thriving in Brookline and a strong social media presence.  Received the 2016 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Award in the amount of 292,000 for tech rescue training of 18 department members and 6 members from surrounding UASI departments.  Maintained a Class 1 ISO certification.  2 members of the department received Medal of Valor’s at the 28th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards for the heroic actions they displayed during a fire.  These are just a few of the many accomplishments that have occurred over the past year. Contained within this report is the culmination of the efforts, skills, commitment and dedication of each and every member of the organization. The department remains committed to providing quality service as we strive to meet the expectations and ever changing demands of the community.

Fire Suppression Division

The Fire Suppression Division is divided into four working groups (shifts) whose responsibilities include the protection of the lives and property of the people of Brookline from fires, natural and manmade disasters, and hazardous materials incidents, as well as saving lives by providing Emergency Medical Services, preventing fires, and enforcing State Fire Laws and Codes. Suppression is the largest Division of the Fire Department and is staffed by 4 Deputy Chiefs, 7 Captains, 21 Lieutenants and 114 Firefighters. They respond from five fire stations geographically distributed throughout the town.

The BFD responded to a variety of incidents from medical and household emergencies to major accidents and structure fires. In 2017 we saw 27 structure fires in multifamily homes, and high-rise buildings, as well

2017 Annual Report as single family homes. Fire Department response was exemplary in all instances. Our emergency response system has proven to be multi-dimensional, efficient and effective in all phases of response. All structure fires for the year were contained to the building of origin with no extension to exposures. In 2017, suppression fire companies responded 13,356 times (8% increase) to a total of 8,201calls (2% increase). Of these, 4,659 (7.5%increase) were for medical emergencies (including multiple administrations of Narcan and numerous performances of C.P.R), 706 were box alarms (23% increase) and 3,900 were still alarms (10% increase) for hazardous conditions, service calls, and other assistance rendered.

To maintain their skills, fire companies reported to the training facility 300 times for classes and practical evolutions. Suppression companies also conducted 533 building inspections of structures with 6 units or more for compliance with Mass. General Laws regarding detection equipment and conditions relative to occupant safety. Upon the transfer or refinancing of property, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspection (commonly called a 26F inspection) is conducted. Fire companies performed 875 26F inspections (6.5% increase). In compliance with Mass General Laws, fire companies conducted 104 quarterly fire drills in school and educational occupancies. The town received or rendered mutual aid to surrounding towns 129 times in accordance with our METROFIRE agreement.

Multiple alarm fires in 2017 included structure fires on Beacon Street, Aspinwall Avenue, Village Way and Babcock Street

In 2017, the Brookline Fire Department continued its time honored tradition of rendering efficient and effective fire extinguishment and life- saving efforts to the entire community.

Fire Maintenance Division

All vehicles have been serviced two times during the year of 2017 which consists of grease, oil, and oil filters and tune-ups. All vehicles have had an Annual Registry of Motor Vehicle State Inspection along with a DOT inspection. All vehicles have been winterized with antifreeze. All tire chains have been repaired or replaced. All five Hurst tools are due to be serviced spring of 2018. All portable generators and pumps have been serviced and tested. Four air samples have been taken on both high-pressure air compressors. Quint 4 ladder test has been done. Ladder 2 and Ladder 3 are due in Spring, 2018 for test. Ladder 1 is new. All pumps have been tested. All non-car vehicles have been rust proofed and undercoated. Twenty-five ground ladders are due to be tested Spring, 2018.

Engine 1 - Major refurbishment done 2016

Engine 3 – Two pump valves rebuilt, numerous lights replaced.

Engine 5 - New in 2016

Engine 6 – Partial refurbishment done- Pump rebuilt, intake and discharge valves replaced. New front suction valve was installed, new springs, brakes and suspension. New tires, batteries, alternator, and starter were installed. New battery jumper ends, seat belts and seats reupholstered. Also minor body work was done.

Engine 11 / SPARE – Two new batteries, four new brake chambers, four new tires, and new wiper motor installed.

Engine 14 / SPARE – Numerous lights replaced, pump packing replaced, four new seatbelts, new fuel take, six discharge valves rebuilt.

Engine 15 / SPARE – Four new tires, four discharge valves rebuilt and numerous lights replaced.

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Ladder 1 K.M.E. - New arrival from factory 12/28/17

Ladder 2 – Numerous lights replaced

Ladder 3 Pierce– New arrival in March, 2017

Quint 4 2010 Pierce – Major body work done due to ice coated roads resulting bad crash

C1- Front/Rear brakes, two new tires

C2 New 2016 Ford Expedition

C3 – Four new tires

C4 – New battery, four new tires

C6 – Two new tires and new battery

H1 – Four new tires, front and rear brakes

H2 2009 E250 Ford Van - New battery

K1 2014 Ford Taurus – 2 new tires and new battery

K2 2010 Toyota Prius – 4 new tires

K3 2012 Toyota Prius – 4 new tires

M1 – Major Engine work done. This truck was taken out of service 12/17 due to major engine issues and extensive rot & corrosion; not worth repairing.

M2 – 4 new tires, new battery, and rear bumper replaced

S1 New 2016

Squad 1 2001 Ford F250 – Two new tires (heavy rust and corrosion on undercarriage)

New equipment received in 2017

K.M.E. Ladder 1 and Pierce Ladder 3

Major work needed on vehicles in 2018

M1 2008 Ford F350 - Major engine work needed, heavy rust and corrosion on undercarriage, body completely rotted out. Not worth repairing, recommend replacement ASAP

H2 2009 Ford E250 - Major transmission work needed. Severe rust and corrosion on undercarriage; Recommend replacement

Squad 1 2001 Ford F250 - extensive rust and corrosion undercarriage; Recommend replacement due to age and corrosion.

K2 2010 Prius / K3 2012 Prius recommend replacement due to age.

Engine 11 1992 - spare Major body work and undercarriage work needed, not worth repairing.

2017 Annual Report

Vehicles to be replaced in 2018 or ASAP – M1, H2, K2, K3, Squad 1 & C6

Equipment Needed

2 spare hydrant gate valves

2 spare steamer connection gate valves

1 waterway valve for new ladder 2

3 new K12 saws

3 new chainsaws (ours are quite old and not worth repairing when breaking)

Extra fire hose to compliment house load on spare pumps and stock for bad hose taken out of service.

Extra foam

Heavy duty kerosene heater for shop (thawing frozen fire hose and equipment)

Software for Maintenance Division Computer (designed for fire department maintenance). Also an Ipad or laptop computer to be used for maintenance.

Going forward:

Recommend program be instituted to do rust proofing / under coating on all new vehicles as received.

Fire Alarm Division, Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center

The Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center at the end of 2017 is composed of twelve full-time Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers, three trainee Dispatchers, and one Chief Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher. One Dispatcher resigned, and two Dispatchers moved on to the Police and Fire Dept. in 2017, resulting in the hiring process of three trainees in the 4th quarter of 2017.

The Fire Alarm Division has continued to train to the highest standards possible and has provided continuing education in Emergency Medical Dispatch. All Dispatchers were provided with multiple training opportunities that included but were not limited to the following topics in 2017: CPR/AED certification, MA First Responder, Fire Service Dispatch, Crisis Communications, and the Mass Fire Academy Rapid Intervention Training for the Dispatcher Course. A major training highlight for the entire staff was when they were assigned to General Dynamics IT’s facility in Westwood in Spring, 2017 to be trained on the newly activated Next Generation 911 system deployed across the Commonwealth.

The Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center has been preparing for Next Generation 911 Technology and Equipment provided by the Massachusetts State 911 Department and General Dynamics Information Technology. Equipment installations took place in March, 2017 and our E-911 Dispatchers began operating on the first new 911 System in the Commonwealth since 2006 on March 22, 2017. This Next Generation 911 system is a network based IP 911 system enhanced with security upgrades, improvements in mapping technology, and capable of future 911 features like Text to 911, which will be made available to the community possibly in 2018.

In September, 2017, the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center was designated as a Wireless Direct Center capable of receiving wireless 911 calls intended for the Brookline PSAP directly rather than being transferred from Mass State Police and other Wireless Centers. This is a milestone accomplishment made

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possible by the new NG911 system and will enhance the speed and effectiveness of citizens who call 911 getting the help they need.

The Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers of the Brookline Public Safety Dispatch Center in 2017 fielded approximately 235,000+ Fire and Police business line calls and handled 14,399 incoming and outgoing Emergency 9-1-1 calls. In 2017, Dispatchers made 79,244 Computer Aided Dispatch Police and Fire entries. Of the 79,244 entries made 8,200 were Fire Department calls for service that were dispatched and responded to by the Fire Suppression and Fire Prevention Divisions. Out of the 8,200 Fire Department Incident Runs, 4,659 of those were Medical and Rescue related incidents.

Fire Training Division

The Training Division is staffed with one Deputy Chief and one Captain. This Division is responsible for initial recruit training, as well as the continuing education and training of the Fire Department personnel. The Training Division also has a continued partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), State Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), Battle Road Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BREPC) and Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness (MOEP). Together in this Unified Organization, the Training Division is at the forefront in this regional co-operative when it comes to keeping this department informed in the newest training initiatives.

In 2017 the training division conducted two regional recruit classes. Each training academy runs for a ten- week period. Skills taught during the academy include firefighting, car extrication, MBTA emergencies, EMS services and technical rescue fundamentals. The two classes had a total of thirty-nine recruits from five communities: Brookline (16), Chelsea (10), Dedham (3), Malden (6), Marlborough (4). The division is anticipating conducting its next recruit class in late 2018.

The Training Division also provides comprehensive instruction that covers both re-certification of skills and new certifications to the Departments line personnel. The certifications are recognized by the state and enable us to play a larger role in regional training exercises. The Training Division conducted over twenty- five different classes of instruction. Some of the topics covered included the following fields of study:

 Fire Suppression  Emergency Medical Service Instructions  Fire Department Communications  Responding to Elevator Emergencies  Auto Fires  Vehicle Extrication  S.C.B.A. Training  Ice and Water Rescue  Hazmat Response  Operation of the Mass Decontamination Unit  Rapid Intervention Team Training (R.I.T.)

We also utilized expertise from the following outside agencies during training exercises:

 Eversource Utilities  Mass Fire Academy  Boston Fire Department Training Division  Fallon Ambulance

2017 Annual Report

The Department Company Officers continue to conduct their daily In-Service Training in the stations, which helps to reinforce the knowledge and skills of their group members. A yearly list of subject matter has been distributed to each station. The Training Division also distributes supporting instructional material, references and resources necessary to aid company officers with their daily “In “Service Training”.

In addition to the division’s normal activities, for the calendar year 2018 the Training Division looks forward to breaking ground on a new multi-million-dollar training facility to be located behind Station 6 on Hammond Street. The Training Division will also continue its efforts alongside the Brookline Police Department to create an interagency emergency response plan to active shooter situations. The two departments plan to work together to stage additional active shooter drills during the course of the year.

Fire Prevention Division

The Bureau of Fire Prevention is headed by a Deputy Chief. The staff consists of 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, and a full time clerk. The personnel of the Bureau focus on all aspects of life safety. Their primary objective is to reduce preventable deaths, injuries, and property loss through our extensive public education programs, fire inspections of commercial properties, and through enforcement of adopted fire codes. The process of fire inspections in combination with code enforcement and fire prevention education enlightens building owners and tenants. This helps to gain voluntary compliance, as well as limit the number of repeat violations in the future. In addition to annual fire safety inspections of commercial properties, the fire inspectors have a wide range of other responsibilities which include:

 Continued documentation of fire reports and photos in FIREHOUSE.

 24 Fire investigations that accounted for a total dollar loss of $1.1M.

 Received and processed all telephone, in-person, and email inquiries.

 Maintained an all-access public fire prevention window for issuing fire permits, smoke detector certificates and conducting department business.

 Managed 533 annual inspections of buildings with 6 units or more. These building inspections were performed by the fire suppression companies.

 875 Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide certification inspections.

 176 Certificate of Occupancy inspections.

 526 Fire Permits issued.

 1866 Fire details performed.

 215 Plan Reviews completed.

 22 Inspections of the install and removal of above and underground oil storage tanks.

 60 Quarterly Health Care Inspections conducted for licensed facilities.

 49 Lodging House Inspections.

 150 Common Victualler License inspections.

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 20 Retail Package Store Inspections.

 4 Second-Hand Motor Vehicle License Inspections.

 2 Second-Hand Articles License Inspections.

 5 Inn Holders License Inspections.

 61 Open Air Parking Inspections.

This year the Town transitioned to a new permitting system called Accela in mid- June. All members of Fire Prevention have been trained in its use. Accela has the ability to allow residents to apply for permits and schedule inspections from home. Fire Prevention is working with the Town IT to make this a reality for residents by mid- year.

Fire Prevention formalized a new policy for the installation of BDA’s, bidirectional antennas. These antennas are required, where needed, in all new buildings or those undergoing significant rehab. This will insure that Firefighters are able to communicate effectively in all areas of a building. We have also instituted a policy for new buildings and those undergoing significant rehab that they must submit and follow NFPA 241: Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations.

2017 Annual Report

Building Department Daniel F. Bennett, Building Commissioner

Code Enforcement and Inspection

The Building Department is responsible for administering the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Town of Brookline bylaws as they relate to land use and the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures.

The Department's goal is to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress, facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment.

Staff enforces the State Building Code as well as Town by-laws and regulations related to zoning, building, plumbing, gasfitting, electrical, fire safety, sprinklers, accessibility, noise, signage, preservation and demolition. The Department performs annual inspections of lodging houses, places of assembly, parking facilities and common victualler locations prior to their license renewal. Building Department staff reviews applications and inspects projects for which permits have been issued and enforces provisions of the Massachusetts State Building Code.

The Building Department issued 6733 permits in 2017. There were 15 new single-family residential building permits issued and 5 permits for multi-family residential buildings (40 Units). In addition, there were numerous permits issued and inspections performed for additions, alterations, roofing, siding, window replacement, basement, bathroom and kitchen renovations. As a result, there were more than 400 certificates of occupancy & use, annual inspections and condominium conversions issued.

Pursuant to M.G.L. inspectors attended continuing education courses offered by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. These courses assure that inspectors are well versed in code changes, latest construction materials and methods. The continuing education courses will be an even more valuable tool as the State transitions to the 9th Edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code. The Department is committed to reducing paper usage/storage and trips to Town Hall with on line permitting and accepting credit card payments. In June the Department went live with the new Accela Permitting System. In addition, a new on line application process was introduced requiring all Building, Sign, Mechanical, Sprinkler and Zoning Denial Letter application be submitted on line only. Plumbing, Gas and Electrical applicants have the option of applying on line or in person pursuant to State requirements. On line applications require all supporting documentation including construction plans, license information, workers comp insurance, contracts, affidavits, reports and other technical information to be downloaded in digital format. This aligns with the departments desire to enhance document storage and minimize paper usage.

The following major projects took place in 2016:

 Completed construction of a new structured parking garage at Brookline Place  Received application and commenced plan review for new 10 story hotel with parking garage on Brookline Ave  Building Department staff continues to perform regular onsite inspections of the Additions/Renovations to the Devotion School Project  Continue to perform the required inspections for the construction of a Limited Service Hotel and Retail space partially located in Brookline (former Cleveland Circle Cinema)  Completed demolition activities for the redevelopment of 2-4 Brookline Place  Completed construction of a new 30,000 s.f. Field House and renovations the current to Ice Rink at Dexter School  Completed construction of a 70,000 s.f. Theatre Building with accessory studio space and production shop at Boston University  Provided staff support to the Board of Appeals and Planning Dept. for numerous Comprehensive Permits applications

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 Substantially completed the 22,000 s.f. research and design addition at the Beaver Country Day School

Permits Issued 6,733 Certificates Issued 428 Building 2,267 Plan Review 69 Electrical 1,633 Builder’s Licenses 1 Plumbing 1,308 Board of Appeals Cases 90 Gas Fitting 946 Lodging House 51 Mechanical 428 Violation Notices 24 Sprinkler 28 Inspections: Sign/Façade 54 Common Vic./Food Vendor 213 Occupancy 139

Public Buildings

The Public Buildings Division of the Building Department is responsible for the repair, maintenance, rehabilitation and general upkeep of all Town and School buildings. Division staff provides services to all Town and School buildings. The Division uses its staff for emergency calls, small to medium size projects and completion of those items left over from larger projects. Generally large-scale projects and preventative maintenance is performed by outside contractors. In addition, specialized services such as burner/boiler maintenance, fire alarm and glazing services are performed by outside contractors. Buildings are monitored through our energy management system for heating and cooling. For outside contractors, there were 1800 service orders issued in 2017, while department tradesmen handled 7500 in house work orders. A majority of these work orders are due to increasing preventative maintenance work. Department staff continues to work with the School Administration to find and create additional space for the ever growing school population. This includes the creation of teaching spaces at the High School, in anticipation of the larger class population moving through the district. The Devotion School Addition and Renovation is scheduled to be completed by September, 2018. The Building Department will assist the Schools in their transition from the Lower Devotion (30 Webster) and Upper Devotion (Old Lincoln School) to the new Devotion School over the summer. In addition to routine maintenance and testing that occurs in the summer, schools were painted and new carpeting was installed.

As part of our energy savings measures new LED lighting has been installed in the Town Hall, Coolidge Corner Library and Municipal Service Center. Funding for this project was partially paid from the Green Communities Grant. Other sources of funding include the Eversource rebate programs and CIP funding. A new domestic hot water system was installed at the Kirrane Aquatics Center and Phys Ed building using new 98 % efficient condensing boilers. A portion of the costs associated with these installations were part of a National Grid rebate program.

The Solar program to install panels at several Town and School buildings has been in the planning process for many years. There have been several setbacks. The Town will continue to pursue the approval and installation of Solar panels with the State. This would pay for panels to be installed at the Runkle School. In addition, the Town signed an agreement with a firm that would allow the Town to use a credit on our electric bills from two solar installations at two MBTA parking facilities. The Public Buildings Division continues to expand security measures; additional security systems were installed at a number of Town Buildings. This includes the Libraries, Senior Center and Golf Course.

Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) include the ongoing work at the Fire Stations – including the plans for a new maintenance and training facility at Fire Station No.6. A new asphalt shingle roof has been installed on the Museum of Transportation as well as roof work on portions of the Baker School. The elevators at the Town Hall and Tappan Street Gym were upgraded and modernized as part of a long term program for elevators. As the CIP continues to be funded Building Department staff works internally to plan and implement the Roof Replacement program, Building Envelope & Fenestration repairs, Fire Alarm upgrades, Elevator Modernization Program and many others.

The Municipal Service Center renovation/expansion project is completed. A new wash bay was added and shops, storage and office space was reconfigured. The Kirrane Aquatics Center project (lobby, office, locker room and pool renovations/repairs) was also completed.

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Building Commission

The five Building Commission members are appointed by the Select Board in accordance with Town By-Laws. Three staff members report to the Commission. Collectively their responsibilities include the management of engineers and architects and oversight of contractors in connection with construction work on public buildings.

Typically, at the beginning of a project, the Commission assists the user group in identifying program and infrastructure needs. Once funds are approved by Town Meeting, the project proceeds to design and then construction and closeout. The Commission’s staff conduct many of its routine activities and report regularly to it.

In calendar year 2017, the Additions and Renovations to the Edward Devotion School continued and the project itself remained the largest of a number of projects managed by the Building Commission and its staff. Its planned completion date is the summer of 2018 and the Commission and staff worked closely with all stakeholders, architect, contractor and other vendors to advance the work. Interacting with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) ensures engagement with them in reporting progress, site visits, reimbursement requests and other communication to foster a good partnership.

In the first quarter of the calendar year, on site work progress included structural steel, footings and foundations and commencement of framing, roofing and other work. The second quarter saw the continuation of all those activities along with the commencement of MEP rough-ins, spray fireproofing, sheathing, AVB installation, interior LGM framing and site work. Structural steel erection was completed, detailing continued. The Third quarter added the start of exterior and interior masonry, interior drywall and blocking, curtainwall installation and the completion of structural steel detailing, concrete slabs and roof membrane. By the end of the calendar year, the building envelope, MEP rough-ins, LGMF, interior drywall and blocking, permanent gas and electric service were complete or nearing completion. Interior finishes were underway and site work continued.

Apart from construction, other efforts began for the procurement of Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment and for move planning and other activities ancillary to the project, all with the goal of reaching completion in the summer of 2018

Other projects in which the building commission was involved with are as follows:

 Municipal Service Center Renovations – completed spring of 2017  Building Envelope Work (UAB) - work was designed, bid and contract awarded. Project will be completed summer of 2018  9th School Feasibility Study - completed in the spring of 2017.  High School Feasibility Study - completed in the spring of 2017.  High School Schematic Design - architect selected; design is ongoing and will be completed in the spring of 2018.  CC Library renovation- architect selected; design is ongoing; project will be bid, awarded and completed in 2018.  Driscoll School HVAC - mini study completed regarding mechanical options; it is anticipated that the design, bid, contract award and completion will occur toward the end of 2018.  Fire Station No. 5 HVAC- mini study competed regarding mechanical options; it is anticipated that the design, bid, contract award and completion will occur toward the end of 2018.  Reservoir Gatehouse Roof Restoration- completed in late spring of 2017.  Fire Station No. 1 Building Envelope/ Roof Overlay- completed summer of 2017.  Fire Station No.6 Maintenance and Training Facility- design was completed and the project went out to bid in late fall of 2017.  Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center Renovations- completed summer of 2017.  Elevator Renovations (Town Hall/ Tappan gym) - completed summer of 2017.  Elevator Renovations (UAB/ Lynch Rec) - work was designed, bid and contract awarded. Project will be completed summer of 2018.  Miscellaneous- closeout and continued planning of capital projects.

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Going forward into 2017, the Building Commission is prepared for new challenges and is committed to maintaining high quality in the design, construction and renovation of Town and School buildings.

Board of Examiners

The Board of Examiners was established with the adoption of the Town of Brookline Building Code in 1956. The Board consists of three members appointed by the Select Board. The Board meets as required to hold examinations and ensure that all work in the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of all buildings or structures in the Town is performed by qualified licensed persons. The Board established eleven classes of licenses for specific types of work. In 1994 the BBRS ruled those Municipalities that established licensing requirements for construction supervisors prior to January 1, 1975 may maintain their existing licensing requirements and accept either their Municipal License or the State Construction Supervisor’s License (CSL). Today the State CSL program consists of eight designations under the Massachusetts State Building Code and accounts for a majority of the license in the Town. During 2017 one (1) Brookline license was renewed.

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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Andrew M. Pappastergion, Commissioner

The Mission of the Department of Public Works is to provide efficient, effective and economical services to the citizens of the Town at the desired level and in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. This is accomplished through the efforts of a well-trained workforce and the leadership of a very competent and accountable professional staff.

The Department is responsible for all endeavors relating to planning, designing, operating, maintaining, and managing public ways, park lands, open space, public grounds, town cemeteries, water distribution systems, sewer collection systems, storm drain systems, and the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling. The Department also provides engineering support services and motor equipment maintenance services to all town departments.

Management

The Department of Public Works (DPW) divides its multiple responsibilities for the management, maintenance and operations of the Town’s infrastructure among five principle Divisions: Administration, Engineering and Transportation, Highway and Sanitation (including Fleet Service), Parks and Open Space (including Forestry, Conservation and Cemetery) and Water and Sewer.

Overseeing each of these Divisions is the Commissioner of Public Works, Andrew M. Pappastergion. Together with his management team, the Commissioner establishes both long and short-term policy direction, forecasts annual operations and capital budgets, and structures departmental management and staffing.

Excluding Administration, each Division is headed by a Director, charged with operations, budget and management responsibilities that are tailored to the specific public resource under their jurisdiction. Peter Ditto serves as Director of Engineering and Transportation, Erin Gallentine serves as Director of Parks and Open Space, Kevin Johnson serves as Director of Highway & Sanitation and Frederick Russell serves as the Director of Water & Sewer.

For purposes of departmental scale, Public Works employs 163 permanent full-time positions and has an annual operating budget of $14.5M, excluding the Water and Sewer Division, which is operated as an enterprise with an annual budget of $29.3M. In addition, the DPW Capital Improvement Program for fiscal year 2018 was funded at $7.84M, which includes the Water and Sewer Enterprise.

Middle Management

While each division within Public Works is led by a Director, the mid-level management structure includes Operations Managers, General Foremen, a Fleet and Facilities Management Supervisor, a Tree Warden/Conservation Officer and a Transportation Administrator, all providing support and assistance to the management team.

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Administrative Team

The Administrative staff consists of eight (8) positions, led by the Administrative Manager that provides critical support services for all the daily functions of the Department. Located at Town Hall and offsite facilities at Netherlands Road (Water & Sewer) and the Municipal Service Center on Hammond Street (Highway, Sanitation, Parks & Fleet Services) the business team provides customer service and handles inquiries for utility and refuse billing, refuse and recycling collection, work requests through the BrookOnLine mobile application and permitting system. In addition, all normal business functions for payroll processing, accounts billable and payable, requisition and purchase order processing and budget tracking, are efficiently performed by administrative staff.

The Department was excited to welcome Brea Thomas to the Administrative team in 2017. In addition to supporting DPW daily operations, Brea provides exemplary customer service.

Public Guidance and Governance

Brookline citizenry play an integral role in Town management, programming and politics through an appointed structure of official Boards and Commissions. The Department of Public Works operates within this vein of public participation, supporting the roles of specific project advisory or selection committees, targeted task forces, and boards or commissions with certain mandated authorities or controls. The following boards and commissions, whose memberships are appointed by the Select Board, work on a permanent and prescribed basis with various Public Works Divisions: Park and Recreation Commission; Tree Planting Committee; Conservation Commission; Transportation Board; Solid Waste Advisory Committee; and the Cemetery Trustees.

2017 Highlights

American Public Works Accreditation Program

The APWA Accreditation program recognizes Public Works agencies that have met the rigorous requirements of the best management practices established nationally in the Public Works industry. The Brookline Department of Public Works achieved this milestone in August, 2011 and became the first agency in Massachusetts and New England to do so. As part of this continuing program of excellence, the Department was successfully re- certified in 2015 and continues to be a nationally accredited agency. The next re- certification is scheduled for 2019.

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Hybrid Pay As You Throw Waste Collection System (HPAYT)

After months of preparation, the Department implemented the semi- automated HPAYT waste collection system in June, 2017 town-wide. This system creates financial incentives to reduce solid waste quantities by allowing the selection of variable sized carts at annual fees based on cart volume. Collection efficiencies and increased employee safety have been achieved through the use of automated collection vehicles with one-person operation. The first six months of the program have yielded reductions in solid waste volumes of 381 tons or 8.2% and increases in recycling volumes of 69 tons or 2.7%. In calendar year 2017, for the first time in history, the Town’s solid waste tonnage was below 8,500 tons.

BrookOnLine Mobile Application

The BrookOnLine Notifier Application is a tool that gives citizens the ability to report issues of concern directly to BrookOnLine Requests the DPW for resolution using Roadway either the internet or a mobile Plowing device. Issues such as Potholes Unshoveled 70 potholes, graffiti, street lights 342 Sidewalks and broken parking meters 525 can be reported in real time Street Lights providing the Department with Broken Parking 278 additional eyes on the streets. Meters Resolution of each issue can 143 be tracked for timely Abandoned completion. In 2017, the Town Bikes received 2,839 requests for all 70 categories which was an Graffiti increase of 26% over 2016. 106 Areas with the largest Sidewalk increases were Unshoveled Park Equipment Repairs Sidewalks (158.6%) and 189 666 Potholes (54.8%). The most notable decreases were in the Trees Graffiti category (-29.3%) and 336 Damaged Signs Street Lights (-25.1%). 114

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Bylaw 7.7 – Removal of Snow and Ice from Sidewalks

Pursuant to Section 7.7.6 of the Bylaw, the Department hereby reports that during 2015 the following efforts were made to implement the provisions of the Bylaw:  Public Education – The provisions of the Bylaw are detailed in the annual Brookline Works informational guide that is sent to all residents, including a listing of the penalties for non-compliance. Guides are also distributed through the Brookline Chamber of Commerce for all local businesses. In an effort to better inform our business community, the Department worked in association with the Police and Health Departments to issue a special notice to business owners detailing their responsibilities under the law.  Enforcement – Enforcement areas are divided among the DPW, Police, Health and Building Departments and include both commercial and residential areas. In 2017, 525 requests for enforcement were received and investigated resulting in the issuance of 97 citations.  Public Assistance – Public assistance to homeowners in need was provided through the Shovel Our Snow program administered by the Recreation Department.

By-Law 8.31 - Leaf Blower Control

Gasoline powered leaf blowers are permitted only between March 15th to May 15th and October 1st to December 31st between the hours of 8am and 8pm on Monday through Friday and 9am and 6pm on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Leaf blowers must have a manufacturer’s label certifying a noise level of no more than 67dBA at 50 feet. For the period October 1 – December 31, 2017, the Department received 30 complaints and pursuant to Section 8.31.8 of the By-Law, issued 12 warnings and 0 citations.

Cartegraph Automated Maintenance Management System

The Department utilizes a computerized maintenance management system for processing requests from the public and generating task orders in the areas of roadway repair, traffic control, sanitation services, parks and forestry, fleet maintenance and water and wastewater utilities. Task orders are forwarded to each Division for scheduling, completion and follow up. Each year the Divisions have continued to increase their utilization of the system to allow for more efficient data management and record keeping. In 2017, the Department received and processed 10,596 work requests from the public and generated 16,765 task orders with an 80% completion ratio.

LED Street Light Retrofit Program In 2014, the Department launched a four (4) year retrofit program to convert 3,494 town-owned street lights from high pressure sodium to light emitting diode (LED). Key highlights of the program include:  Potential energy cost savings of $180,000 annually based on the reduced fixture wattage;  Onetime efficiency incentive of nearly $335,000 from Eversource Energy;  Reduced correlated color temperature (kelvin) to lowest available at time of bid to address concerns of negative health effects;  Use of variable current drivers for adjusting individual light brightness. The program was completed in 2017 with emphasis now shifted to converting ornamental fixtures in commercial areas and park lighting.

DPW Town Meeting Forum The annual "DPW Town Meeting Forum" was held in May. The Commissioner along with his Directors and other personnel host this open forum to address any and all questions and concerns regarding Public Works services.

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DPW Town Meeting Forum

National Public Works Week - DPW Day

The annual DPW Open House took place in May during national Public Works Week. Over 500 third graders participated in this field trip to the Municipal Service Center. The Open House continued through the day with over 500 families in the community touring the facility. Each Division within the Department set up show and tell stations to demonstrate their role in the community. The annual event gives school children and the community the opportunity to learn about these essential services and interact with DPW employees.

Students learned about composting and planting. Each student took a plant home.

“Students get ready to plant”

Students were entertained while the recycling magician performed many magic tricks as a way of educating the students about recycling.

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“Recycling magician in action”

Students viewed the fleet equipment used by the Highway and Sanitation Division. A dump truck, street sweeper, front end loader, and backhoe were all on display.

“Students view the big trucks”

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Students learned how water gets into their home thru underground pipes called water mains.

“Students learn how water travels to their home”

The Open House extended throughout the day for all of the Brookline community. Other DPW functions included a welding and carpentry demonstration, a tour of the mechanics and sign shop, and a turn at using the measuring wheel.

Brookline Winter Guide This guide provides residents and business owners with useful information regarding snow emergencies, parking bans, snow removal, trash and recycling pickup and other winter related topics

ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORTATION DIVISION

The Engineering and Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works (DPW) is charged with the management and administration of town infrastructure, as well as the design and implementation of the vast majority of Public Works’ items contained in the Town’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Town infrastructure would include surface facilities in the areas of all public right-of-ways, such as roadways, sidewalks, traffic signals and parks, as well as those facilities that lie underground, for example, storm drain/sewer systems, water supply lines, and traffic signal/street lighting conduit. CIP projects range in type from roadway reconstruction, to sewer separation, to landfill reclamation efforts.

In order to effectively manage both the diversity and complexity of infrastructure issues for which the Division is responsible, administrative programs and project undertakings are assigned to one of two disciplines: Engineering or Transportation. While it is inevitable, and largely by organizational design, that these two sectors should frequently overlap, the Engineering Section is fundamentally concerned with issues of civil and environmental engineering, while the Transportation Section is devoted primarily to transportation planning and traffic engineering.

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New Employees Join the Engineering Team

Daniel O’Donnell joined the Engineering Division on January 9, 2017. He comes to us by way of the private sector having worked for Woodard & Curran, Inc. He has experience in preparation of civil plans and specifications, technical report writing, permitting, drainage design and landfill inspection. Dan will, among other things, review site plans for conformance with Town standards, perform utility inspections, supervise construction projects, perform land surveying to establish property lines. Layout construction projects and submit as-built drawings at the end of construction. Dan is hired as a Civil Engineer Grade IV.

Edson Francois joined the Engineering Division on May 10, 2017 as a Civil Engineer Grade III. He comes to us by way of the private sector having worked for John Turner Consulting Inc. Edson has experience in land surveying, foundation design, concrete inspection, and construction oversight. His job for the Town will entail preparing contract documents including technical specifications and construction estimate for public bidding, providing engineering design and construction management services, supervise/ inspect contractor’s work for compliance with Town standards and maintaining engineering records. New Engineers Edson Francois and Dan O’Donnell

ENGINEERING

Division Charges

Responsibilities of the Engineering section are divisible into four (4) broad categories: 1) Permit Administration and Inspection; 2) Archival Maintenance and Reference; 3) Interagency Coordination and Oversight; 4) CIP Project Management and Engineering.

Permit Administration and Inspection

The Engineering Section oversees the issuance of Street Opening and Occupancy Permits, typically given to Contractors working in public right-of-ways for utility companies, communication corporations, public authorities or private property owners. Construction work that would typically require such permitting can be either at the sidewalk or street surfaces, or require digging or trenching beneath these finished grades. Parks and school grounds also demand permit consideration.

The purpose of this permit process is both to protect the public infrastructure (property) of the municipality and to promote public safety. This permit system and associated data base is actively maintained on the Town’s network. The system does generate revenue through licensing fees, which serve to offset costs of oversight and administration. Division Inspectors, with the aid of a pre-application process, determine the type of work, associated charges and anticipated impacts to material integrity and traffic/parking conditions. In addition, Inspectors monitor the work and assure that restoration meets with Town specifications.

Sanitary Sewer, Storm Drain and Water Supply Connections are also within the permitting purview of the Engineering Division. Following application procedures, engineered plans and necessary documentation are submitted to Division personnel for review and subsequently, if recommended, for approval by the Director. Generally, these connection permits are associated with parcel developments, capacity and material upgrades, or maintenance when failures occur. In 2017, the Division issued 420 Street Opening permits and 353 Occupancy permits.

Archival Maintenance and Reference

The Engineering Section maintains record plans of its water, sewer and storm drain systems, including individual parcel connections. In addition, plot plans, or surveyed drawings, complete with bound locations, are maintained for all lands

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Interagency Coordination and Oversight

The Engineering Section coordinates directly with state authorities, such as the MBTA and MWRA, whose infrastructure is both located in Brookline and serves the community and/or its immediate region. Similarly, Engineering permits and supervises the maintenance, upgrade and installation of utility systems or communication networks, whether publicly or privately sponsored. Significant projects this past year were undertaken by the following State agencies or utility companies:

 MWRA  National Grid  Eversource

In addition, Brookline Engineering works closely with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MADOT), both in administering state and federal transportation dollars for local Brookline projects through two programmatic vehicles: the State’s Chapter 90 Reimbursable Roadway Funds and the State’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The Chapter 90 program is a recurring annual state appropriation for municipalities, the amount of which will fluctuate annually based on the formulaic tabulation and legislative authorization factors. Approximately $960,905 was allocated to Brookline in CY 2016 through the Chapter 90 program.

CIP Project Management and Design Engineering

The Engineering Section implements projects listed in the Town’s CIP, which might entail project planning; feasibility studies; site surveys; design engineering; preparation of specifications and cost estimates; project advertising and bidding; contract execution; and construction administration and supervision. In this capacity, Engineering functions inter-divisionally, serving the professional engineering, architecture, landscape and surveying needs of each of the other divisions within DPW.

The following project briefs, which represent CIP items listed in Parks, Water & Sewer, Highways, as well as Engineering & Transportation, offer an overview of the Division’s 2017 endeavors:

Engineering CIP

Roadway Reconstruction – 1.2 Miles of roadways were resurfaced or reconstructed which included the following streets: Greenough St. -Washington St. to Tappan St., Clyde St. – Lee St. to Warren St. Two intersections were reconstructed: Blake Rd. / Tappan St. and Gardner Rd./Rawson Rd./Blake Rd. 23 streets were treated with reinforced rubberized crack sealing.

Sidewalk Maintenance – Approximately 1580 square yards of cement concrete sidewalks, 231 square yards of cement concrete driveways and 88 square yards of accessibility ramps were replaced under the maintenance contract.

Granite Curbing – 354 linear feet of new granite curb was installed.

Carlton Street Footbridge – Project is in the State’s Transportation Improvement Program for FY 2019 as an element in the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) category in the amount of $3,838 million. Select Board authorized total design costs of $408,881. Project design is being advanced to the 100% stage with contract bidding anticipated as early as fall, 2018 and construction start in the spring, 2019.

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Back Landfill Closure and Reuse Project – Closure of the rear landfill began on July 24, 2017 and progresses through December until snow and cold temperatures forced a winter shutdown. To date all of the waste relocation has been completed and the majority of the flexible membrane liner cap has been installed. Two detention basins have been constructed along with stream restoration and realignment of hiking trails. Remaining work: pavement, drainage swales, block walls, wood fences, and landscaping is anticipated to be complete by summer 2018.

Grading the Back Landfill

Water and Sewer CIP

Town The Town continued working with its consultant to complete the I&I inspection of Sewer subareas NI-8, NI-9, NI- 10, and NI-11. The work included flow isolation and CCTV to identify I&I sources. As a result of the investigation, the Town has prepared Sewer System Contract PW/15-10. Work includes the following:  Spot repair of sewer mains  Install/repair sewer manholes  Line various size sewer mains with cured-in-place pipe  Cleaning of sewer mains  Manhole rehabilitation

The Town executed a contract with D’Allessandro Corp in the amount of $2,221,480 to perform the above mentioned work and completed the work in summer of 2017.

Parks and Open Space/Recreation CIP Supervised the reconstruction of the following playgrounds:

 Brookline Avenue  Corey Hill  Emerson Supervised the construction of the new playground at the Fisher Hill Reservoir site.

NPDES Phase II General Permit for Small Municipal Storm Separate Sewer Systems The DPW/Engineering Division is responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Town‘s Storm Water Management Program (SWMP). The DEP and EPA require a SWMP to contain the following BMPs:

 Public Education

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 Public Participation  Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination  Construction Site Runoff Control  Post Construction Runoff Control  Municipal Good Housekeeping

During the IDDE inspection, the Town found three illicit connections which were corrected. Further investigation will continue as outlined in the Town’s agreement with the EPA.

Sixty-two applications were submitted and approved for Stormwater Permits as required by the Town’s By-Law which addresses construction site runoff. As a result, 62 site inspections were made.

TRANSPORTATION

A Transportation Administrator, Traffic Engineer, and two Administrative Assistants staff the Transportation section of the division.

Duties of the DPW - Transportation Division staff include:

1. Providing technical support and administrative services to the Select Board, the Transportation Board, Bicycle Advisory Committee, Public Transit Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, Brookline Police Department and other town departments; 2. Responding to resident inquiries or complaints regarding motor vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian safety, parking, and taxi operations; 3. Conducting safety improvement, traffic safety, and parking studies; as well as spot studies on the use and placement of traffic control devices and parking signage; 4. Overseeing the design of intersection and traffic signal improvement projects in compliance with the Town’s Complete Streets, Traffic Calming, and Crosswalk Policies; 5. Managing the town parking system (metered and curbside parking spaces); 6. Administering the school staff, resident daytime, guest overnight, resident overnight, and commercial area employee parking permit programs; 7. Regulating the taxicab industry, valet services, and livery services; 8. Assessing the impacts of all major new development projects on traffic flow and parking.

Transportation Board Meetings

The Transportation Board, a citizen body of six appointed by the Select Board, is charged with oversight of the Town’s Traffic Rules and Regulations. The Board meets on a regular basis to review and adopt traffic and parking policies, to review and approve various license applications, and to act upon recommendations for traffic safety and parking improvements identified by town residents and Division staff. During 2017, the Board conducted sixteen (16) public meetings and hearings at which they took action on over one hundred (150) traffic, parking, taxi, and other items under their jurisdiction.

Program Administration

The division staff administers the resident daytime parking permit program, the overnight guest parking program, the overnight resident parking program, the commercial lot permit parking program, the commercial meter permit parking program, the commercial on-street permit parking program, and the temporary parking permit program as well as regulating the Valet, Taxi, and Livery industries. It also evaluates and acts upon, with the approval of the Transportation Board, all requests for handicapped parking and valet parking spaces.

In 2017, the Division:

 Issued over 2900 resident daytime parking permits;  Issued over 540 commercial daytime on-street parking permits;

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 Issued 3 Taxi Dispatch Licenses, 41 Taxi Business Licenses, and 69 Hackney Certificates resulting in 34 taxicabs placed into service;  Issued 2 Public Automobile for Hire Business Licenses;  Issued Valet Parking Licenses for 1 restaurant establishment and 1 private residential building;  Issued over 6000 Temporary No Parking/Tow Zone signs to residents and/or contractors to assist during moving or construction periods;  Issued over 8000 temporary parking permits to residents and others who suffered conditions that qualified them for short-term exemptions to the 2-hour daytime and overnight parking time limits;  Managed the resident overnight parking program, that now encompasses over 326 off-street parking spaces in 13 locations, renting an average of 150 overnight parking spaces each month;  Issued over 150 commercial meter hang-tags to 43 businesses for employee parking in Brookline Village, and 70 parking permits for employee daytime parking in the Coolidge Corner commercial district lots;  Oversaw the issuance of over 600 school teacher and staff daytime parking permits for the BEEP @ Temple Emeth, BEEP at Temple Ohabei Shalom, Lawrence, Lower Devotion @ Webster St, Pierce, Runkle, Upper Devotion @ Old Lincoln, Brookline High School, Webster Place Administrative Offices and the Maimonides schools; and  Oversaw the Feasibility Study for a Town and School Employee Parking & Transportation Demand Management program providing a benefit program to encourage employees to utilize alternative modes of transportation.

Parking Meter Management

The DPW - Transportation Division staff, working in concert with the DPW - Highway Division assumes primary responsibility for managing the 2,417 parking meter spaces located curbside and in the off-street parking lots within the commercial areas. Currently the Town utilizes three meter types to provide the best possible service to the users of our public parking supply. In the parking lots we utilize the Digital Multi-Space Meter on a pay by space system, curbside in our busiest commercial districts the Town has deployed the IPS single space meter that accepts credit card payment, and in the remaining 1320 spaces the Town continues to use the POM single space meters which accept coin payment only.

In 2017 staff oversaw the rollout and implementation of a pay by cell option with Passport Parking which allows for the payment of parking meter fees at all parking meters online or via the Passport of ParkBoston apps. Staff also continued the second year of the 4-year replacement project which will replace all POM single space coin only meters with IPS credit card and coin accepting meters.

Traffic Signals

Both the design of new traffic signals and the operation (phasing and timing) of existing traffic signals fall under the purview of the DPW - Transportation Division. Traffic counts and speed monitor data are also routinely gathered to provide information necessary for traffic signal design or modification. In 2017 DPW - Transportation staff worked with the Highways Division to continue to upgrade traffic signals with camera based detection equipment. This new equipment is better for maintenance purposes since it is not likely to fail as roadway pavement conditions deteriorate or are trenched through and better detects bicycles and motor vehicles. Staff also studied and then altered the traffic signal timing and phasing at the intersection of Harvard Street @ School Street & Aspinwall Avenue to reduce traffic congestion and improve motor vehicle safety to create a dedicated left turn arrow.

Taxi Regulation

The licensing and inspection of all taxicabs and limousines operating in the Town of Brookline falls under the jurisdiction of the DPW - Transportation Division and Transportation Board. As required under the Brookline Taxicab Regulations, the entire operating fleet of taxicabs successfully passed semi-annual inspections conducted by the DPW -Highway Division. Upon recommendation of the division, the Transportation Board and the Brookline Police Department’s Hackney Division took action to protect the residents of Brookline by strongly enforcing the vehicle safety requirements that our taxi fleet must meet during these inspections.

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Parking Regulation

DPW – Transportation Division staff is always seeking ways to minimize the conflicts between automobiles, pedestrians and bicycles. The safe flow of traffic on the streets of Brookline is of the highest priority. Economic development and safe traffic flow also depend upon clearly delineated parking areas and adequate signage. During 2017, and as warranted by specific neighborhood safety concerns, the Transportation Board and division staff authorized a total of 37 sign work orders that involved the installation of over 250 new or modified traffic control signs, parking restrictions, or pavement markings.

Complete Streets

In 2017, staff began to implement the new Complete Streets Policy, adopted by the Select Board, which formalized the Town’s commitment to create a comprehensive transportation network that sufficiently accommodates people of all ages and abilities, whether traveling by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, mass transit, or motor vehicle. This included the design of a new Pearl Street as part of the mitigation package for the Boston Children’s Hospital project at 2 Brookline Place, the design of improvements on Babcock Street and Naples Road to improve pedestrian and cyclist access, and review of Engineering Division roadway reconstruction plans for streets in South Brookline which will be constructed in 2018.

The Town’s Policy was recognized nationally as a Top 10 Best Complete Streets Policy by Smart Growth America, a national coalition of advocacy organizations which is dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide.

Pedestrian & Motor Vehicle Safety Improvement Program

Our in-house staff and on-call transportation consultants perform area-wide safety improvement studies in response to traffic volume, speed or parking conditions that might contribute to unsafe vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian movements. Neighborhood associations or residents living on a particular street will typically initiate such requests for a traffic calming study which is then prepared and approved by the Transportation Board following a lengthy public process.

In 2017 DPW - Transportation Division staff worked with residents and the Transportation Board in the following parts of town to design and implement safety improvement projects to lower motor vehicles speed and increase motor vehicle and pedestrian safety:

 Developed and oversaw the construction of three new crosswalks on Warren Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue with pedestrian actuated rectangular rapid flash beacons to encourage school age pedestrians to walk to the Lincoln and Heath Schools.  Oversaw the construction of the safety improvement plans for the intersections of Tappan Street @ Blake Road and Gardner Road @ Blake Road and Rawson Road. These plans will reduce motor vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian safety with curb extensions, neighborhood traffic circles, new sidewalks, and ADA compliant crosswalks.

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 Oversaw the construction of the safety improvement plans for the intersections of Clyde Street @ Lee Street and Clyde Street @ Warren. These plans will reduce motor vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian safety with curb extensions, new sidewalks, and ADA compliant crosswalks.

New curb extensions and crosswalks on Tappan Street New neighborhood traffic circle on Gardner Road

Bicycle Infrastructure Design & Construction

In response to the Town of Brookline’s continued desire to become a Green Community and design facilities that reduce our carbon footprint, the Transportation Board and the DPW – Transportation Division staff have made it a priority to build a multi-modal transportation network that encourages alternative modes of transportation instead of personal automobile trips. In order to encourage more citizens to use bicycles to travel throughout the town, and to connect regional bicycle routes, a safe network of routes must be designed and constructed. This commitment led to the Town receiving the designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community in the Bronze level from the League of American Bicyclists.

In 2017 DPW – Transportation Division staff oversaw the installation and data collection for the one-year trial program on Beacon Street westbound between Marion Street and Westbourne Terrace of a separated bicycle lane in place of the right travel lane as well as the design and approval of the Centre Street Bicycle Accommodation Plan and the Essex Street Cycle Track Plan, all three of which will be permanently constructed in 2018.

Support of Green Community Status

In 2011 the Town was awarded a Green Community status by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in recognition of our resident and town staffs commitment to reducing our energy usage and improving our carbon footprint. Transportation Division staff have been a partner in this process developing plans and overseeing construction projects to develop a multi-modal transportation network that encourages alternative transit modes. In 2017 this work included:

 Continued implementation of policies and projects to encourage safe cycling and walking to reduce congestion caused by motor vehicle use;  Overseeing the third year of a four-year conversion project of all cobra head street lights to LED;  Advocating for increased efficiencies in our public transportation systems; and  Installing 5 new Chargepoint dual charging stations for electric vehicles in our public lots for use by residents.

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HIGHWAY, SANITATION AND FLEET SERVICES DIVISION

The Highway, Sanitation and Fleet Services Division is comprised of four (4) separate work units each with independent goals and objectives. The Highway Unit, Sanitation Unit, Fleet and Facilities Unit and the Traffic Systems Unit are each described in detail below along with their key accomplishments. The Division is led by Director Kevin Johnson and each unit is managed by a team of senior supervisors.

HIGHWAY UNIT

The Highway Unit is responsible for the maintenance of more than 220 lane miles of asphalt roadways and 150 miles of sidewalks of varying surface types. During 2015, Highway continued its effort to make intermediate repairs to roadways and sidewalks in an effort to preserve their surface integrity for the safety of the public and to keep them clean and more aesthetically appealing. The unit continued its program of working in conjunction with contractual services to accelerate the replacement of sidewalks in areas of the Town where pedestrian traffic is heaviest and the sidewalks are in an advanced state of deterioration. In addition to the surface repair of streets and sidewalks, the Highway unit is responsible for the public pathways, municipal and school parking lots, paved play areas, along with other roadway appurtenances including curbside benches, litter baskets, fencing, and guardrails as well as clearing of snow, sand, leaves, litter, graffiti, and other unwanted debris from public ways and facilities.

HIGHWAY STATISTICS 2016

Bituminous Concrete placed 885 tons

Concrete Sidewalk placed 6458 square yards

Leaves collected 2695 tons

Street sweeping 946 tons

Waste Concrete, Asphalt & Gravel 2458 tons

Snow Storms / Events 18 Snow Accumulation 52.7”

Household Hazardous Waste Day 1302 participants

Snow and Ice Control

The Department is responsible for the clearing of snow from 254 lane miles of public roadway, 900 street intersections, and 77 private ways. In addition, snow clearing operations are done on over 44 miles of public sidewalk generally within commercial areas and along walking routes to and from public schools. Winter operations also include snow clearing from all public buildings and facilities including public schools.

Sidewalk Replacement

The Highway Division continued with an aggressive sidewalk replacement program. The Division crews placed a total of 605 cubic yards of concrete in 2017. The replacement remains stable through training, cross-training, quality equipment and a dedicated workforce. The ability to sustain this level of productivity is based on funding to purchase concrete and maintaining existing manpower levels.

Plow Keeping the Street Safe

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Employee Training

The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety amended the regulations for Hoisting Licenses by adding a continuing education requirement. Each license holder is mandated to complete 4 hours of education within a two-year renewal period. The DPW holds on-site training averaging 30 employees for training to satisfy the requirements. This year the entire Department underwent 2 hours of Right to Know training and 4 hours of Bantering training.

Recyclable Concrete and Asphalt

The disposal of waste roadway materials (asphalt and concrete) generated by roadway and utility repairs has resulted in annual expenses for hauling the material off-site. Over the past several years, the Highway unit has begun a program to recycle these waste materials into Employees Attend a Right to useable processed gravel for reuse as a base material for sidewalks and backfill for utility Know Training Session trenches thereby avoiding both disposal costs and the expense of purchasing new material.

SANITATION UNIT

The Sanitation Unit is responsible for the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste for 7416 accounts that serve 13,362 residential and commercial units and a recycling and recovery program that includes the annual collection of residential household hazardous wastes.

Solid Waste Program

On June 1, 2017, the Department implemented a new Hybrid Pay As You Throw (HPAYT) curbside collection system for municipal solid waste (MSW). Each customer was able to select from 3 different size waste carts with annual refuse fees charged based on the cart size. 12,512 carts were distributed Town-wide as follows:

35 Gallon cart: 6,128 65 Gallon cart: 4,286 95 Gallon cart: 2,098

Recycling Program

Since the implementation of the Single Stream Recycling program in 2010, recycling volumes have seen an increase by 12.7 % while solid waste tonnage has decreased by 16.8%. New HPAYT Cart Sizes Household Hazardous Waste

The Sanitation Division continued offering the weekly household hazardous waste drop-off center. The center located at the Transfer Station is opened to residents every Tuesday from May thru October.

The DPW designated areas at Town Hall, the Health Center and the Municipal Service Center for the year-round collection of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL), batteries and cellphones.

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Sanitation Statistics 2017

Solid Waste & Recyling Program 10000 9215 9089 8885 9000 8495

8000

7000

6000 5332 Solid waste 5068 5053 5084 5000 Recycling Tons 4000

3000

2000

1000

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 Calender years

Solid Waste Code Enforcement Program

Solid Waste Complaints Received 601 Inspections/Re-inspections 770 Solid Waste Warnings Issued 449 Solid Waste Citations Issued 88 Total Fines Collected $4,555.00 Number of Waste Haulers Permitted 35 Waste Hauler Permit Fees Collected $14,130.00

FLEET AND FACILITY SERVICES UNIT

The Fleet and Facility Services Unit is responsible for the acquisition, inventory, inspection, maintenance and disposal of all mechanized Public Works equipment, with the exception of the Water and Sewer Division. The Fleet Services Unit also maintains and inspects all other automotive / truck equipment within the Town except for equipment operated by the Fire Department. In addition, this Unit assists in the administration of the Town’s taxi licensing and inspection program, as well as the routine physical maintenance of all Department of Public Works buildings, including garages, office, and storage facilities town-wide.

Employee Technician Training

A strong and continued emphasis on technical training has benefited the Fleet Services Unit enormously. By utilizing vendor and manufacturer relationships, technician training has been increased at minimal or no cost to the Town. The increase in training hours to 120 hours has directly improved technician efficiency and productivity.

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Employee Technician Shifts

The Fleet Maintenance Section continued to operate two work shifts. This enabled the section to better serve the needs of all departments. Operating two maintenance shifts during the day has allowed us to complete 721 Preventive Maintenance Work Orders. This also improves response time to breakdowns and drastically reduced vehicle downtime.

Taxi Cab Inspections

In conjunction with the DPW’s Transportation Division and publicly appointed Transportation Board, the bi-annual 371 taxi cab inspections were completed.

TRAFFIC SYSTEMS UNIT

The Traffic Systems Unit is responsible for the maintenance of traffic signals, parking meters, pavement markings, ornamental and utility street lights, fire alarm boxes, signs, and graffiti. In total, this inventory is comprised of approximately 1,120 individual signals, 3,600 street lights, 1,883 parking meters, 30 multi-space meters, 28 school zone warning lights, 10,210 signs, 229 master fire boxes, 302 street fire boxes, 100 miles of overhead wires, and pavement markings on more than 200 lane miles of streets throughout the Town. Along with daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance routes, the division executed work orders issued by the Transportation Division for regulatory sign installation, pavement markings and parking meter modifications. New to this unit’s responsibility is the maintenance of 30 multi-space meters and the installation of 3600 LED cobra head street lights.

Traffic Signals

Maintenance of the signalized intersections, flashing beacons and school zone flashers continued throughout the year.

Street Lights

All Streetlights owned by the Town were updated in the GIS program listing location and type of streetlight. This data enabled a smoother transition to the new LED fixtures currently replacing the existing high pressure sodium Units. The program is virtually complete with the installation of 3,494 fixtures.

Parking Meters

The maintenance and repair of 1,883 parking meters and 30 multi-space meters is a daily function of the Traffic Unit. Currently, 684 meters are the traditional POM type meters and 1,199 are the new IPS single head meters that use coins and credit cards. These meters are located in Coolidge Corner, JFK Crossing, Washington Square and Lower Beacon Street. In addition, the 30 Multi-space meters are in all parking lots and reservations that have converted to “pay by space”.

Signs and Pavement Markings

The Town continued to upgrade street signs, stop signs and poles to meet current MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) standards of text size and retro-reflectivity. The Traffic division completed 37 work orders from the Transportation Division for the installation of 185 new signs and repaired or replaced 488 signs due to knockdowns or faded signs. The Traffic Division has worked with the Engineering Division on a program to standardize pavement makings throughout the town. Part of the program is utilizing new marking products like 3M inlay tape and logos.

Street Lights

The Traffic Unit continued the maintenance of street lighting, including ornamental, park, path and standard street lighting totaling over 4,000 lights. In 2017, 393 street light work orders were completed.

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Events & Special Tasks

In conjunction with other departments, the Traffic Systems Unit plays a major role in the planning and executing of several major events throughout the year (Boston Marathon, Half Marathon, Bike parade, Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Aids Walk, Jimmy Fund Walk, Town, State and Federal elections, Walk for Hunger) and several minor events. Placing and removing all flags and banners on poles throughout the Town for different Town or private events is a common task.

Fire Alarm

The Division continued the maintenance of the Fire Alarm System that includes Master Boxes, Street Boxes and approximately 100 miles of cable wire. In 2017, the Department prepared a condition report of the entire system and has recommended replacement of master and street boxes with a new wireless system that will render the wired cable obsolete in the future.

Employees Installing a Public Art Display PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DIVISION st for the 1 Light Celebration The Mission of the Parks and Open Space Division is to develop a clean, green, safe, accessible and well maintained network of parks and open spaces for both passive and active recreation that preserves the historic integrity and cultural significance of Brookline’s landscape. Please visit www.brooklinema.gov/parks for updates throughout the year on our park and open space system, technical resources, projects, programming and events.

The Parks and Open Space Division, in partnership with the Park and Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, Tree Planting Committee, and Walnut Hills Cemetery Trustees, is responsible for the design, development, policy, programming, maintenance and management of over 120 sites or 500 acres of public open space, comprised of 38 parks and playgrounds, 3 sanctuaries, 10 public school grounds, land around 15 public buildings, 5 public parking areas, 2 cemeteries, over 60 traffic circles, islands and open space, and over 50,000 public trees throughout the Town. The Division implements an aggressive maintenance program on 25 multi-use playing fields, a safety inspection and repair program for playground structures at 22 parks and 10 schools, and ongoing maintenance, painting and repair at 25 basketball courts, 31 hard surface tennis courts, and one set of 6 clay courts. The Division is responsible for seasonal preparations, horticulture improvements, litter pick-up, trash collection, leaf removal, turf restoration, carpentry and fence repairs, as well as snow and ice removal during the winter months. In addition, the Division maintains a full-sized outdoor skating facility (the Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink) at Larz Anderson Park.

Parks, Schools & Public Grounds

The Parks and Open Space Division provides renovation, maintenance and repair of all play equipment, park furniture, walkways, landscaping and fixtures in the Town parks, school grounds and public grounds. The following highlights 2017 projects:

Dedication of Riverway Park to Michael and Kitty Dukakis

On Tuesday, June 13, 2017 the Town of Brookline dedicated Riverway Park to Michael and Kitty Dukakis in recognition of two of Brookline’s most influential citizens. Governor and Kitty Dukakis have local, national and international prominence and were recognized as distinguished public servants that have committed their careers to parks, the environment and improving the lives of others. The improvements to the Riverway area at the Longwood T-station and dedication plinth were made possible by donations from the Brookline Greenspace Alliance, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Justine Mee Liff Fund, Hugh and Arlene Katz Mattison, the Friends of the Muddy River and many friends of the Dukakis family. The plinth reads: “It is with deep appreciation of their commitment to the Olmsted legacy in Massachusetts; with gratitude for their contributions to the protection, preservation and restoration of the Emerald Necklace; and in honor of their lifelong support of our parks and open space; that Riverway Park in Brookline is dedicated to the Honorable Michael and Kitty Dukakis.” Many special dignitaries were present to celebrate the dedication and share their congratulations.

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Dukakis Dedication at Riverway Park

Corey Hill Playground

Construction of the improvements at Corey Hill Playground was completed, and an opening celebration was held in October that drew crowds from the neighborhood and beyond. Corey Hill Playground is located at the crest of Summit Avenue and is divided into active and passive parcels. The southern parcel contains all new play equipment and furniture, water play for the first time, natural play elements on the hillside, and exercise equipment. The northern parcel includes a new sundial and a variety of seating for multigenerational use and quiet enjoyment. Both sides of the park have accessibility improvements and new native plantings.

Corey Hill Playground Ribbon Cutting

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Daniel F. Ford Playground at Emerson Garden

Work was begun at Emerson Garden in July and includes complete replacement of the play equipment including a custom piece by the artist Mitch Ryerson, a new splash pad, new lawns and ornamental plantings, replacement of the irrigation system, new fencing and site furniture, resurfacing the perimeter path, and improvements to sewer and drainage utilities. Work was halted due to winter weather, and will resume in the spring of 2018 when temperatures allow installation of the resilient safety surfacing at the play areas, new lawns, and fencing.

Brookline Avenue Playground

Brookline Avenue Playground saw the start of construction in the spring. The primary emphasis has been about thoughtfully constructing an inclusive playground that provides meaningful play experiences for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of mobility or developmental challenges. The design theme revolves around experiencing and interacting with nature, and includes manipulative water play as well as completely new play equipment and accessible surfacing. Additional improvements include new fencing, more welcoming entrances, new plantings, and a renovated field. Construction will resume in the spring of 2018 and the park will reopen when the last of the play equipment and surfacing has been installed and the turf is established. Community Development Block Grant funding contributed to the project.

Brookline Reservoir Park

The public design review process began in June and was nearly complete by the end of 2017. The goals were to maintain the park’s character, maximize accessibility, improve infrastructure such as drainage and paths, repair masonry, enhance the vegetation, improve stormwater management, and address the Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety (ODS) policies calling for the removal of vegetation on top of the dam structure. Improvements will include new entries and a new stone dust path, replacement of overly mature Cherry trees, repointing the stone armature in the reservoir basin and at the retaining walls facing Route 9, removal of invasive plant species, and implementing bioswales planted with grasses and shrubs to address standing water and erosion. Review will be necessary by the ODS as well as the Conservation and Preservation Commissions. It is anticipated that the project will be bid in 2018.

Pierce Playground

Pierce Playground was fully opened to the community for the start of the school year in 2017. The Pierce School Playground renovation improvements include new play equipment for preschoolers and school age children, renovation of the ballfield, new fencing, new plantings, a picnic area and passive seating with new site furniture, and a new pedestrian circulation system that provides a perimeter walking path.

Emerald Necklace Bicycle Pedestrian Crossing

The EN Crossing was fully completed in 2017 with a new operational bicycle and pedestrian crossing to connect Olmsted Park and Riverway Park across Route 9. Final work on the project included new lawns, tree and shrub plantings and ornamental street lights.

Lawton Community Garden

The Division constructed a new community garden at Lawton Playground with the assistance of a grant from the Brookline Community Foundation and private fundraising. The garden was immediately popular and already has a waitlist to secure a plot.

Lawrence School

The Division completed major asphalt and drainage improvement project at the Lawrence School. The improvements include a new cobble swale, new asphalt, planting beds and curbing, drains and infiltration. The end results is improved stormwater management, improved site circulation and enhanced beautification.

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Brookline in Bloom:

In 2017, the Towns parks and open spaces lit up with over 15,000 flowering annuals, 1,800 colorful fall mums and 55,000 spring flowering bulbs throughout the Town’s parks, playgrounds, libraries, town grounds, school grounds, medians, traffic circles and islands, and cemeteries.

The Muddy River Restoration Project

The Muddy River Project is an essential part of the ongoing effort to rehabilitate the Emerald Necklace park system. The rehabilitation is guided by The Emerald Necklace Environmental Improvements Master Plan and the Muddy River Flood Control, Water Quality, Habitat Enhancement and Historic Preservation Project. This overarching effort includes improvements at Charlesgate (completed in 2005), as well as the Back Bay Fens, Riverway, and Olmsted Parks.

The City of Boston and Town of Brookline are working in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop a comprehensive program to restore the Muddy River: however, the project scope has been reduced to exclude the majority of the environmental restoration elements and only include flood control. Funding for the effort comes from the USACE, Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and its Department of Conservation and Recreation, Boston, and Brookline. Phase I of the project, was completed in 2016. Design for Phase II of the project is currently underway by the USACE. It is anticipated Phase II construction contracts, to include work in Brookline, will be awarded in 2018.

Park Rangers

In 2017, Rangers patrolled parks and open spaces, checked and issued over 1100 picnic, party and event permits, provided information and general visitors’ services to park patrons, enforced rules and regulations, and completed maintenance tasks to improve visitor experience, accessibility and safety. They provide staffing at the Larz Anderson picnic pavilion and BBQ areas, manage visitor services, trash, recycling and restroom maintenance. For many Brookline residents and park visitors, Park Rangers serve as a primary point-of-contact for Brookline Parks and Open Space. Throughout the year, the Rangers serve as liaisons and advocates for the dog owners, athletic groups, playground visitors, and park abutters who visit Brookline’s parks and open spaces, and work to build interdepartmental relationships within the Town.

Rangers patrolled parks and open spaces, providing information and general visitors’ services to park patrons, reviewing over 7000 athletic field user permits, enforcing rules and regulations, monitoring the Green Dog Program, and identifying and completing maintenance tasks to improve visitor experience, accessibility and safety. Similar to last year, the most common maintenance issue noted on the Rangers’ daily reports was litter. Rangers picked up over 20,000 pieces of litter from Brookline green space over their 1550 park visits.

Goose management was an ongoing issue at Larz Anderson Park, Olmsted Park, and the Brookline Reservoir, resulting in regular feces cleanups and use of various goose relocation techniques over 100 times in 2017. The Brookline Reservoir alone was visited 3 times weekly from May through early September, to remove goose waste on the walking paths. Barrier fencing was re-established along the riverbank at Olmsted Park due to vandalism.

In addition to routine maintenance concerns, work and upkeep in the Sanctuaries and Dane Park in Brookline continued to be a focus. Trails through wooded areas were cleaned, raked, and re-established through regular maintenance throughout the spring, summer and fall. Waterways were cleared of obstructions, refuse and debris, and the lagoon at Larz Anderson was raked and cleaned by seasonal staff to reduce algae cover. Invasive plant species, notably garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, black swallowwort, grapevine, multiflora rose and Japanese knotweed, were cut and removed at sites such as the Brookline Reservoir, Olmsted Park, Riverway Park, Griggs Park, D. Blakely Hoar Sanctuary, Dane Park, and Larz Anderson Park through over 100 recorded instances.

Green Dog Program

In 2017, 1420 residents and 168 non-residents enrolled in the Green Dog off-leash program, keeping participation in line with previous years. Park visitation by Green Dog members was very high, and Rangers confirmed regular overall compliance with program rules and regulations. In addition to processing the years’ applications and regular visits to the 14 Green Dog sites, the Rangers responded to a wide array of Green Dog related issues, ranging from general inquiries on the program’s rules and regulations to resolving conflicts between dog owners to more complex issues

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Community Events

The Division continued its popular Summer Movie Series at Waldstein Playground in July. “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Finding Dory” and “Moana” had great attendance and enthusiastic crowds, with “Moana” breaking 800 attendees. Games and activities were made available before the movies, as well as the new addition of food trucks, affording dozens of families the opportunity to turn the outdoor moving into an extended evening outing.

Brookline Park Rangers hosted several community events including Kites Over Brookline (kite-making at Larz Anderson Park), Introduction to Orienteering (using maps to traverse the Parks off the normal walking paths) and Things That Go Bump in the Night (guided night walk at Dane Park). These community programs offer visitors opportunities to explore and enjoy the parks in new and interesting ways. Additional community events hosted with partner organizations included: Studios Without Walls Public Art Installation at Riverway Park, Brookline Bikes Beacon, Outdoor Shadow Puppetry, the Emerald Necklace Concert Series, Pet Emergency Preparedness Workshop, a Climate Week walk, and childrens’ events at the Brookline Public Library branches.

Park Rangers and other Parks staff assisted and helped organize several volunteer projects throughout the year. Notably, the Friends of Halls Pond and the Friends of Dane Park each hosted seasonal cleanups in their respective parks, yielding great turnout and a very productive workforce. Altogether, over 400 hours of volunteer labor were recorded, with over 150 participants, from school groups to churches to passionate individuals.

Forestry

The goal of the forestry program is to preserve and maintain all shade trees along public ways, parks, school grounds, cemeteries, and all other public grounds. The Division provides for the safety of all public ways and grounds through the removal of dangerous limbs and trees and is responsible for replacing trees removed and adding as appropriate. The total number of trees under the Division’s jurisdiction is reported as more than 50,000. Included in that total are over 11,000 public street trees. The Division continues to utilize and update its street tree inventory, which includes information on tree species, size, condition and health, and management needs. The overwhelming citizen interest in tree preservation continues in Brookline. The Division continues to work with interested citizens, businesses and environmental advocacy groups to enhance the care of the urban forest. The forestry crew is on call 24/7 to address forestry emergencies.

In 2017, the Town was pleased to receive a Tree City USA Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for its care and stewardship of the urban forest. Brookline has received Tree City USA recognition for over 27 years.

Tree Planting

The Town continues to strongly support the tree planting program with a goal of planting more trees than are removed each year. In 2017, approximately 186 trees were removed, and over 504 street and park trees were planted. A wide variety of trees are planted to insure that species diversity is maintained. Species diversity helps in protecting the Town’s urban forest from attack by a single disease or pathogen, such as Dutch elm disease, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid or the Emerald Ash Borer.

The three-member Tree Planting Committee, established in 1886, supervises the selection, planting and removal of all street trees in Brookline. Nadine Gerdts is the Chair of the Tree Planting Committee and serves with Hugh Mattison and Elizabeth Erdman.

Conservation

The Brookline Conservation Commission is responsible for the administration of environmental laws and policies, open space protection and management, water management, and preservation of natural features of the environment. The Commission administers and enforces the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Brookline Wetlands Protection By-Law through its review of permit applications and issuance of Determinations of Applicability, Orders of

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Conditions, Certificates of Compliance, and Enforcement Orders. The Commission also administers the Federal Flood Protection Program. It initiates and helps guide studies concerning open space, water quality, flooding and other aspects of local environmental quality. It prepares and oversees implementation of the Town’s Open Space Plan and manages conservation areas owned and conservation restrictions held by the Town. The Conservation Commission seeks and administers grants to support the Town’s environmental protection efforts, and guides many volunteer maintenance and improvement activities.

In 2017, the Commission continued with the process of updating the Open Space Plan. The Open Space Plan is a planning document which guides the community in its stewardship and oversight of the open spaces throughout Brookline. It is also required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to remain eligible for various grant opportunities.

Cemetery

Walnut Hills Cemetery

The initiative of the Division is to provide excellent maintenance and management of the Walnut Hills Cemetery to support the dignity, tranquility and overall appearance of the cemetery and visitor experience. Town staff and the Cemetery Trustees rely on the Master Plan for the Walnut Hills Cemetery as the guiding document for short and long term improvements.

Old Burying Ground

The Friends of the Old Burying Ground, supported by Town staff, continue to fundraise to support the full restoration efforts of the historic stones and markers. The team reviewed conservation efforts achieved over the last 15 years and completed a program in 2017 to restore 15 additional priority stones and monuments.

WATER AND SEWER DIVISION

The Water and Sewer Division operates and maintains the Town’s water and wastewater systems consisting of 355 miles of piping and appurtenances that provide the entire population with reliable drinking water, for both domestic use and fire protection, and for the collection of sanitary sewage and storm water drainage. The operation of all three systems is accomplished in strict accordance with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations to promote the health and welfare of the community.

Under the leadership of the Director, the Division’s administrative staff efficiently and courteously handles all water and sewer business functions, including payroll, accounts payable, licensing, permitting and customer relations. Approximately 1525 requests for information and assistance and more than 40,000 utility service invoices are processed annually, with over 2,000 billing complaints and inquiries are investigated and resolved. In the past year, Division staff has serviced and processed 56 applications for Licensed Drain Layers and have issued 79 permits for repairs to sewers and drains.

Components of the water distribution system include over 135 miles of cast iron and ductile iron pipe, 2,027 line valves, over 1,500 fire hydrants, 10,800 service connections, 1.67-million- gallon water storage facility. During 2017 the Division installed, repaired or replaced 176 service pipe connections, repaired 18 service and main leaks and repaired or replaced 52 fire hydrants. In addition, the Division conducted 41 fire flow tests yielding $10,250.00 in revenue. Emergency response was provided for 650 service requests and 300 complaints were investigated and resolved for water quality, water pressure, and leakage problems. The Division purchased 1,776 million gallons of water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), representing a reduction of 6.5% compared to 2016 consumption with an average daily usage of 4.87 million gallons and a maximum daily usage of 7.28 million gallons. The maximum flow week occurred from 8/23/17 to Employees attend a Water Main Tapping session

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8/29/17 where 46.92 million gallons of water was consumed. Retail water and sewer sales generated $27.9M in revenue.

The Town continually provides vital educational sessions to Water and Sewer Division staff in waterworks operations, confined space entry, trench safety, hydrant repair and water main leak detection, to name a few.

In July 2011 The Water & Sewer Division implemented a new rate structure for how we bill for water and sewer. An ascending block rate was established to bring more equitable cost distribution among customers. A water and sewer charge for public buildings as well as a fire service charge was implemented. The new base charge, which is based on the size of the house meter, will cover approximately 30% of the Division’s fixed operating and debt costs.

In 2009 the Division implemented a Water Main uni-directional Flushing program as recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This program has been ongoing for the last several years. The Water Main Flushing Program is an effective method of improving drinking water quality for residents and businesses, and is an integral component of a water utility’s distribution system maintenance program.

The Division’s Cross Connection Control Program, established in 1989 pursuant to the Drinking Water Regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has inspected all high and moderate high risk facilities throughout the Town and identified 1982 violations requiring the installation of nearly 2000 backflow preventer devices on irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems and high hazard plumbing systems. Annual testing of these devices by Division staff is mandated by the State of Massachusetts regulations and yielded $139,880.00 in revenue in 2017.

Water Hydrant Flushing

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The wastewater collection system is made up of 104 miles of separated sanitary sewer pipe. The Department of Public Works is currently completing sanitary sewer system improvements directed to eliminate inflow and infiltration. Presently the town’s average wastewater flow is 7.76 million gallons per day.

The second system comprises 101 miles of storm drains that collect runoff and roadway drainage from 3,296 catch basins and discharge through twelve drainage districts to the Muddy River, Saw Mill Brook, Stony Brook, and the Charles River. The major part of both systems was constructed between 1880 and 1930 and includes pipe sizes from 6” to 150” in diameter

During 2017 emergency assistance was provided for 29 requests involving broken, plugged or backed up sewer and drains as well as the repair of 105 sewer and drain manholes and catch basins. 1,830 catch basins were cleaned generating 558 tons of sand sediment and debris.

Representation to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) was provided by Jay Hersey of the Engineering Division, who serves as the Town’s designee to the MWRA Advisory Board. In addition, Andrew M. Pappastergion, Commissioner of Public Works is an elected member of the MWRA Board of Directors serving in his seventh consecutive 3-year term representing A Catch Basin Repair the sixty-one (61) cities and towns in the MWRA service area.

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Recreation Department Lisa Paradis, Director

Brookline Recreation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life through enriching experiences which support the Brookline Community in developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles. We endeavor to provide recreational opportunities for young people, adults, and senior citizens to live, grow, and develop into healthy, contributing members of our community.

The team at Brookline Recreation enters into each year with a set of objectives that are centered on the needs of the community and focused on constantly improving the delivery of service to the citizens of Brookline. The staff works hard to create and implement programs and services that surpass the needs and expectations of the community and fulfill the mission of providing opportunities to achieve or enhance healthy lifestyles. The department employees over 30 full time staff, and between 200 and 400 part-time staff, depending on the season.

As in past years, school aged population growth has challenged the department to expand services with limited resources. The department has seen another climb in registration numbers in some of our largest programs, and in response, has hired more part time and seasonal staff to meet the demands of the community. In other cases, we have expanded our offerings to create new and diverse services. With growing population and service demands comes a growing need for financial aid for the most vulnerable sections of the population. The department dedicated over $112,000 through Brookline Recreation grants to Brookline program participants in need of financial support to participate in our programs.

At the Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center, pool operation hours were increased for the 3rd year in a row to better meet community needs. With over 50,000 patrons visiting the facility each year, the aquatics division team is managing hundreds of group and private lessons, the Dolphins Swim Team, and thousands of lap swimmers annually. To this end, the department has also increased staff scheduling efficiency and communication by implementing the “When I Work” online scheduling software program for our part time and full time staff.

The Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center underwent a capital renovation in 2017 to address structural and access challenges at the facility. The renovation project included pool structural and deck repairs, lobby and

129 www.brooklinema.gov office reconfiguration, new changing and showering facilities to accommodate diverse gender identifications and family changing needs, as well as new lockers and fixtures in the locker rooms.

Aquatics programming, in all forms, shows up as a priority for Brookline residents when the department surveyed. This data has guided the department in all areas of program development and management, and underscores the need to evolve and grow. The department is dedicated to ensuring that customers are satisfied when they participate in aquatics programming and aquatics program offerings continue to expand.

Out of School Time services continues to be a focus for growth at Brookline Recreation. In the past year, the department has increased the quality of programming at Soule Early Education Center and the Brookline Recreation’s After School Program by improving program curriculum, and offering higher quality, more consistent and diverse opportunities for staff professional development. The After School Program at Eliot Recreation Center added a new maker space area that includes science, technology, engineering and math components that has allowed students in kindergarten through grade five to experience a more diverse and enriching menu of activities. Additionally, the department implemented the National Recreation and Park Association’s Out of School time grant investing $10,000 across various program categories to support healthy lifestyles and healthy eating habits.

2017 saw the summer camp and sports programs continue to drive the program division. The department registered 2000 campers for summer programs alone, while the sports division registered 4,500 participants in a variety of in town and travel leagues.

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The Soule Early Childhood Center integrated an extensive environmental education program which included gardening, farm to table food preparation and an outdoor classroom for 3 seasons. Soule EEC continues to be a leader in the early childhood space, having a nationally renowned curriculum that is a hybrid between Montessori and Reggio Emilia foundations. Because of this model, the center is visited by a variety of center professionals from both the United States as well as Japan, China, Israel, and more.

The Robert T. Lynch Golf Course at Putterham Meadows completed first full season of Golf Driving Range in 2017. There were over 4,000 users at the range in the 1st year of opening, selling 22,100 baskets, which generated $210,000 in revenue. The golf course generated 29,600 rounds of golf and exceeded its revenue goals. A new addition to the course was the outdoor barbeque pavilion, which was designed and built with a partnership between the Town and Massachusetts School of Art and Design.

The Recreation Department supported the following keystone community partners in various ways to make a positive impact in Brookline: Teen Center, B.I.G, Women and Girls Thriving, STEPS to Success, Summer Partners, Committee for Out of School Time, Brookline Together, DPW, and Brookline Parks and Open Space.

The 6th annual Brookline Day was held at Larz Anderson Park, and it continues to be the hallmark community event in for the year. The road race had over 250 adult runners, while there were 150 youth registered for the Kid’s Fun Run in the morning. Later that day, over 5000 attendees enjoyed local food, “Touch a Truck,” local business kiosks, great music and games as well as the “Mini Town Hall” section.

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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BROOKLINE Andrew Bott, Superintendent

The Public Schools of Brookline include eight PK-8 elementary schools, Brookline High School, a comprehensive high school for grades 9 through 12, and an early childhood program. As of October, 2017, there were a total of 7,876 students enrolled in our district.

Since 2005, Brookline has seen unprecedented enrollment growth of 28% district-wide, and we project another 10% district-wide enrollment increase by 2022.

The Public Schools of Brookline continue to be among the highest performing and most respected school systems in the United States. Brookline students are accepted at highly competitive colleges and universities in numbers that are significantly higher than most other school districts.

Brookline is at the forefront of providing quality public education to its residents. However, our stakeholders believe that successful school systems and organizations only remain high performing when they strive for continuous improvement. Therefore, we have many initiatives currently underway in the system to ensure that Brookline will remain at the forefront of education in the Commonwealth and nation.

Vision Statement:

Brookline provides an extraordinary education for every child. Each child’s unique path to achievement is supported in academically exciting and programmatically rich environments. A dynamic, diverse community of teaching professionals works collaboratively, innovating and inspiring each other and their students. Staff gets to know students intellectually, developmentally and culturally. Students are encouraged to question and challenge ideas and participate as active citizens. Schools use a variety of assessments to get the fullest picture of student learning and growth over time. These data are shared regularly with the community, and they form the basis of how we understand and improve student, teacher and administrator performance. Parents are partners with the schools in supporting their children’s education, and schools communicate effectively so that parents are confident of the response to their child’s circumstances and needs. The community, well informed and involved in the schools, supports these efforts that continue a tradition of challenging ourselves to do better, efforts that ensure the enduring value of a Brookline education.

Mission:

Our mission is to ensure that every student develops the skills and knowledge to pursue a productive and fulfilling life, to participate thoughtfully in a democracy, and succeed in a diverse and evolving global society.

Our five Core Values and our four District Goals inform all of our work: everything from budget decisions to each building’s School Improvement Plan. The aspirations underlying each of the Public Schools of Brookline’s five Core Values are defined below.

High Achievement for All The Public Schools of Brookline inspires our students to develop a passion for learning. We support students through strong relationships to become invested in their learning, develop the confidence and persistence to grow as learners, and meet their goals for success in and beyond school. To pursue our value of all students achieving at high levels, the PSB is committed to: ● Small class sizes ● Quality early childhood education ● Inclusive classrooms and district-wide Special Education programs ● A comprehensive high school curriculum with an extensive variety of opportunities and programs ● Comprehensive Program Review

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● Differentiated instruction for all learners ● District-wide equitable access to educational technology

Educational Equity The Public Schools of Brookline identifies, understands, and eliminates barriers to educational achievement in our schools. Educators in every school provide their students with the support needed to reach and exceed Brookline’s high standards. To pursue educational equity, the PSB is committed to:

● District-wide Strategies such as: o High quality curriculum across all grades and all schools o Inclusive classrooms with educators and specialized instructional personnel o High quality professional development opportunities and supports focusing on instructional coaching and collaboration o Specialized programs and services district-wide in support of access for all learners. o Literacy and Math Specialists across schools to provide support and create high outcomes for all students o Child Study Teams individualizing student interventions and extensions o District-wide and school specific professional development on equity ● Targeted Support Programs such as: o The Calculus Project o African American and Latino Scholars o Steps to Success Inc. o Alternative Choices in Education (formerly known as Opportunity for Change) o Leveled Literacy Interventions o School Within a School o Young Scholars

Excellence in Teaching The Public Schools of Brookline understands that passionate, knowledgeable, and skillful educators are the core strength of our schools. To support excellent instruction throughout our schools, the PSB is committed to: ● Strong, effective mentoring programs for all new staff and administrators ● A meaningful and structured approach to educator evaluation and support ● Instructional coaching and professional development for teachers in math, literacy, educational technology, and Enrichment and Challenge Support ● Recruiting and retaining outstanding educators: ● Job-embedded professional development on early release dates ● Professional learning team opportunities

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Respect for Human Differences

The Public Schools of Brookline provides a safe environment for expressing and exploring human differences and commonalities. Our schools create caring and understanding communities that promote a deep sense of belonging and respect for all. To support respect for human differences throughout our schools, the PSB is committed to: ● Meeting individual student needs through social- emotional learning at the K-8 schools and the high school ● Professional development focused on bias and anti- racism ● Ongoing review of instructional material to make them more representative of the diversity of our students and families ● The METCO Program ● Comprehensive district-wide Special Education opportunities ● Robust school-based and District-wide English Language Learner programs ● The School Within-A-School program at BHS ● Comprehensive Bullying Prevention Programs in all of the K-8 schools ● Providing support to students through the Advisory Program at BHS ● Ongoing commitment to development of Cultural Proficiency in students and staff

Collaboration The Public Schools of Brookline commits to collaboration in all aspects of education to foster interaction among diverse viewpoints and to broaden learning opportunities for our students, educators, and community. Collaboration among faculty and between schools and our longstanding community-based partners creates the shared ownership of our schools that adds value to the lives of all community members. To support collaboration, the PSB is committed to:

● Collaboration among faculty and administrators: o Child Study Teams o Common planning time where faculty members collaborate on lesson planning, assessing student work and improving instruction o School-based collaborative study groups where faculty members study topics related to strengthening instruction and improving their practice o Curriculum coordinators visiting classes in teams and principals doing learning walks in all schools ● Essential partnerships: o Parent Teacher Organizations, School Site Councils, and other specific parent groups (e.g., Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Steps to Success parent group) o Brookline Education Foundation o 21st Century Fund o Brookline Community Foundation, The Brookline Community Mental Health Center o Municipal Departments: ▪ Building Department and the Public Building Division – Facilities Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement; ▪ The Public Library of Brookline – Education Technology and Library Services partnership; ▪ Parks and Open Space – Playgrounds and Fields; ▪ Police/Fire – Emergency Planning and Response; and ▪ DPW – Sidewalks, grounds maintenance and snow removal ● Extended Day and enrichment programs in all K-8 schools

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The district’s surging enrollment has caused us to explore solutions in the form of school expansions and the creation of new school buildings, including:

Devotion School Building Project

The renovated and expanded Devotion School is slated to open in September 2018. During the period of construction, students were relocated to two temporary locations: grades K-4 at a leased building at 30 Webster Street (a former assisted living facility) and grades 5-8 at the town-owned Old Lincoln School on Boylston Street. The removal of all students from the site allowed us to pursue an aggressive single-phase 25-month project.

Construction progress during 2017 was robust, and remains on schedule and on budget. We look forward to welcoming students back to Devotion School for the 2018-2019 school year.

9th Elementary School

The Town of Brookline first began considering building a new elementary school in 2008. At that time the School Committee chose to pursue an "expand-in-place" strategy to address rising enrollments, and began adding classrooms to existing schools by dividing classrooms; converting offices, locker rooms, and hallways into classrooms; renting private buildings; and building new classrooms or adding modular classes. Since 2008 the School Department has added 56 additional classrooms across the town using the expand-in-place strategy. In 2011, as it became increasingly clear that ongoing enrollment growth would exceed the capacity of the expand-in-place strategy, the Town commissioned the first site selection study for a 9th elementary school. Since then elected officials, town departments, and community members have been working to identify a site.

In November 2017, the ongoing process to build a 9th elementary school in Brookline restarted the site selection process. On November 14, Town Meeting voted in favor of Special Town Meeting Warrant Article 1 by a vote of 208 to 2 to spend $300,000 on further site evaluation at Baldwin/Pine Manor, Baker School, Pierce School, and other possible town or privately-owned sites. The approved warrant allows for additional expenditures for further feasibility study should a single site or multi-site solution be chosen.

Brookline High School Expansion Project

Brookline High School is currently experiencing the initial wave of rapid enrollment growth that will increase the student body from 1,800 students in 2015, to at least 2,600 or more students by 2023. Anticipating this growth, the School Committee, School Department, and Select Board have been moving forward on developing expansion plans. In December 2016, the Select Board appointed members of the Building Committee for the Brookline High School Expansion Project.

Between December 2016 and May of 2017, the BHS Expansion Project moved through the Feasibility Phase. The BHS Building Committee worked with HMFH Architects to consider design alternatives and preliminary costs, and arrived at four possible paths for expansion and renovation, as well as numerous design options. The Building Committee held seven public meetings, along with two community meetings and two public hearings at which community members provided input and asked questions. In May, the Building Committee voted to move forward with Option 4D as the Preferred Design.

The design for Option 4D maintains one unified campus for BHS by adding a 9th grade building on Cypress Street, creating a new Science Center on the corner of Tappan and Greenough Streets, and renovating existing classroom and common spaces in the main building. The additions will help create a small-school feel for 9th graders as they transition from our K-8 schools, while allowing them to access arts, athletics, and upper-level courses across the entire campus. Facility upgrades at the main building will allow for state-of-the-art science facilities, and will enable integration across disciplines while providing collaborative spaces for all grades.

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Following are brief descriptions of some of the programs within the Public Schools of Brookline that serve to illustrate how our Core Values and District Goals are translated into direct service to students.

English Learner Education (ELE) Program

The English Learner Education (ELE) program provides services to students whose primary language is not English and who are not yet proficient in English. The program provides support at each school, with services focused on students’ English language acquisition, literacy development, social integration, and academic achievement. All programs are designed to meet the educational needs of English learners by providing English language instruction and specially designed academic support as required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The goals are for students to learn English and meet appropriate grade-level academic achievement standards for promotion and graduation. Thus, program resources are distributed to ensure equitable caseloads among ELE teachers across schools, equitable English language development instruction by level of proficiency, and equitable access to materials.

Brookline’s K-12 Integrated Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) EI Program serves students from 38 languages including:

Chinese Vietnamese Hindi Icelandic Japanese Italian Hungarian Kazakh Hebrew Swedish Farsi Khmer Spanish German Finnish Nepali Korean Turkish Lingala Pashto Arabic French Creole Burmese Polish Russian Greek Dari Persian Tamil French Amharic Dinka Thai Portuguese Dutch Filipino Urdu Danish Telugu Gujarati

As of December, 2017, enrollment in our English Learner Education program, by school, was:

School Enrollment

Baker 106

Devotion 114

Driscoll 61

Heath 28

Lawrence 146

Lincoln 99

Pierce 160

Runkle 54

Brookline High 84

Native Language Support Programs (NLSPs) are only available to students in grades K-8 whose primary language is Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Russian, or Spanish. In each NLSP, there is at least one ELE teacher who is fluent in the native language. Students enrolled in an NLSP may be assigned to one of these teachers who provide

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Educational Technology and Libraries

The Education Technology and Library Department administers the library and educational technology program as an integral part of the instructional and administrative program, supporting the curriculum and staff with appropriate equipment, materials and services.

Equipment, materials and services are delivered equitably across schools. Currently the base library book budgets, for example, are distributed to each school in accordance with each school’s percentage of the total student body. These distributions are adjusted annually to account for the shifts in student population. Additional services (i.e. database subscriptions and online tools) are negotiated at the district level to provide access for all schools.

The department encourages a culture of inquiry that regularly investigates and experiments with promising new practices to engage students as 21st century learners and prepares students for the evolving global society. The Educational Technology and Library staff works in collaboration with the entire school community to help students become:  Enthusiastic, independent readers for information and pleasure  Independent, skillful information users who know how to access, analyze and produce information in a variety of formats using a variety of tools  Responsible Digital-Age Citizens  Skillful learners and innovators who use digital tools to develop the “Four C’s:” o Critical thinking o Communication o Collaboration o Creativity

Integration of these skills is typically addressed through classroom projects within the major curriculum units of study in the core subjects. School libraries are complex hubs of student learning and engagement, with the ability to enhance all curriculum areas. Emerging technologies and near ubiquitous access creates new opportunities to deepen and extend learning, often connecting with people, resources, and perspectives beyond the walls of our classrooms.

The Educational Technology and Library Department is guided by following vision along with state and national library and technology standards and guidelines.

English Language Arts Curriculum

The K-8 ELA/Literacy program serves to develop, assess, and support instructional practices and relevant content for effective learning in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Professional development is provided based on student and teacher needs, and program initiatives across the system. The K-8 Language Arts program emphasizes explicit instruction in strategies that promote successful reading and writing across the curriculum. Literacy Interventionists/Specialists in each elementary school provide targeted instruction to students and Literacy Coaches support classroom teachers in their implementation of Tier 1 instruction.

The work of the K-8 ELA/Literacy department in PSB is comprehensive and includes:

• K-5 Literacy- Core reading, writing and language instruction in every K-5 classroom, including many ELL classrooms and Special Education classrooms. The goal of the work here is to create well-differentiated literacy experiences for students that enable them to make a minimum of a year’s growth in reading, writing and language and to have students engage in content that reflects the standards in the MA Learning Expectations. • Middle School ELA- English language arts and literacy in the middle school classrooms (6-8) where teachers are departmentalized and teach reading, writing, and language. In middle school classrooms, student must

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have adequate opportunities to grow as readers, writers and language users. They need to explore literature, write in a variety of genres and continue to make a minimum of a year’s progress in these areas. Instruction, as in K-5, must be differentiated to meet the range of students’ needs. • Literacy Intervention Services in reading, writing and language are provided by Literacy Interventionists (also known as Literacy Specialists) to children primarily, though not exclusively, through the programs Leveled Literacy Intervention and Reading Recovery. LLI is in every school 1-8. Reading Recovery is in 4 schools (Lincoln, Devotion, Pierce and Driscoll) and is delivered to the most vulnerable 1st grade readers. Other intervention approaches are used K-8. • Literacy Coaching- This initiative, connected to Lesley University’s Literacy Collaborative, is a professional learning framework centered on strengthening Tier 1 literacy instruction in the classroom by promoting differentiated literacy teaching for all students. This goal is accomplished through job-embedded professional development and coaching.

The mission of the ELA program at Brookline High School is in Brookline is to teach all students to think critically and creatively, to read carefully, and to write well. In our classes we foster relationships, engagement, and confidence.

Students interact with a variety of texts and with one another, construct meaning, expand their powers of reasoning, and cultivate the habit of reflection. Teachers use a variety of teaching methods from large-group to small-group to one-on-one conferencing. The responsibility for learning gradually shifts from the teacher to the students, who learn to use their language arts skills as tools for independent, lifelong learning.

Full-year courses are offered at two levels of difficulty in all grades; seniors may also choose unleveled courses. We are committed to exposing students to important literary works; we are also committed to using language arts to explore new directions and new media. BHS senior English courses, in particular, allow students to study a particular interest in more depth, such as creative writing, fiction and film, public speaking, or an independently chosen senior project.

Professional development for English teachers is provided based on student and teacher needs, and program initiatives across the system.

World Language Curriculum

In K-12 world languages we create immersive opportunities for authentic, relevant, real-world learning experiences so that students develop confidence and expertise in their ability to communicate across linguistic borders. Essential to our mission is that every student leaves high school feeling respectful, positive, and curious about cultures and languages beyond their own.

In the process of learning languages, students develop cooperative learning strategies and gain increased confidence in their ability to debate, problem-solve, present, listen, and converse with others. Students regularly showcase their projects, “act” and “move” in simulated environments (such as ordering at a café, doing physical activities while learning health vocab, exchanging goods at a market, cooking, dancing, painting murals, etc.) Guest speakers, artists, and performers representing the cultures studied visit our classes to share their expertise.

We are fortunate in Brookline to have a K-12 world language program that immerses students in language and culture from its very beginning in Kindergarten, with the ultimate goal of intermediate level proficiency for students at the end of grade 8 and advanced level proficiency for students who continue with language through grade 12. The curriculum is based on the “5 C’s” of the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections and Communities.

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Special Education

Provision of Special Education services to students with disabilities ages 3-22 in compliance with state and federal mandates. The Special Education Department strives to provide a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for all students with disabilities. We provide a wide range of high quality inclusive programs and services that meet the unique needs of individual students. Our department is directed and run by a special education team who strives for excellence, best practice, clear communication and collaboration regarding programs, services and processes between educators, parents and students.

For students with special education needs, services are identified in each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and are required to provide a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as stipulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). As the needs of student’s receiving special education services are individualized, staffing is based on a hybrid case/workload analysis model. While there is not a 1:1 correspondence with enrollment numbers, the workloads of all special education providers are impacted by enrollment increases, as well as by the nation-wide trend of an increase in the numbers and intensity of students with significant disabilities entering public school systems. As part of the IDEA, special educators must also be available to provide early intervention services to all students.

These are just a few of the programs offered through the Special Education department: Learning Center

Learning Centers are available in all elementary schools and the high school. The Learning Centers are designed to provide a range of services to students with varied mild to moderate disabilities. Learning Centers focus on assisting students in meeting the curricular demands of each grade. In addition, specific services include but are not limited to direct instruction in reading, mathematics and written language. Learning Centers provide students with academic support and assistance in developing organizational skills, executive function skills and study skills. Small group instruction and individualized instruction are used to assist students in achieving individual student IEP goals. Learning Center special education teachers consult to general education staff members and to the parents as needed. Learning Center teachers also assist in the development and implementation of appropriate modifications and accommodations. Learning Centers provide students and teachers with a level of understanding for each student's disability(ies) and areas of strength as well as self-advocacy skills appropriate to the grade level of the student. Adaptive Learning Center Program

The Adaptive Learning Center (ALC) serves students in grades K-8 with severe disabilities. All students in the program are intellectually impaired, and many have additional disabilities as well, including autism, physical, and health disabilities. Some students have medical challenges. The program emphasizes instruction in the areas of adaptive skills, social-emotional functioning, communication skills, and academics. Students receive both small group, specialized instruction and instruction in the general education setting, depending on their individual needs. Opportunities for inclusion in the general education setting are provided throughout the day for all students. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a core methodology of the program.

Reaching for Independence Through Structured Education (RISE)

The RISE program is designed for students who are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and require specialized instruction that is primarily delivered outside of the general education setting. These intensive and evidence-based interventions are provided within community schools, including two BEEP locations (Lynch and Putterham), Runkle K-8 and Brookline High School. Systematic and data-based instruction is implemented in the following areas: academics; communication; self-help; social and play skills; and vocational skills. Teaching approaches include: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Discrete Trial Training (DTT), TEACCH, visual supports, and total communication approach. Classrooms are organized in a structured way to minimize distractions and encourage independence for all learners. Based on individual strengths, many RISE students are included in the general education setting for learning opportunities related to academics and/or social activities. Additionally, RISE educators provide consultative support for students with autism across the district.

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Enrichment and Challenge Support Program (ECS):

The ECS mission is to collaborate with Brookline educators to create rigorous, relevant, engaging learning for all students.

ECS specialists work together with classroom teachers to meet the needs of their students for challenge, enrichment, and extension across all disciplines, within the classroom, throughout the school day. To do this, ECS specialists spend most of their time collaborating with classroom teachers in conjunction with other specialists. Collaboration among classroom teachers and ECS could include:

• co-teaching a differentiated lesson • working in the classroom with small groups of students or stations • designing and implementing digital, inquiry-based, personalized, and project-based learning • assessing students formatively and co-planning appropriate follow-up

The work of Enrichment and Challenge is outlined in five interconnected areas:

 Teaching, Learning, and Child Study - ECS specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to identify students’ needs, design learning, implement differentiated experiences, and reflect on the impact of their planning on students.  Resource Libraries - The ECS department promotes, models, and shares elements of project-based learning in planning with teachers. We also support teachers in developing interdisciplinary curriculum. These resources are then shared across the district.  Creativity and Innovation - ECS specialists develop extended learning opportunities in the STEAM fields, including utilizing the design thinking process with students.  School Partnerships - ECS specialists collaborate with specialists in math, literacy, technology, and libraries to help build teacher capacity in differentiated instruction and meeting the needs of all learners. Through instructional coaching, the goal is for classroom teachers to develop a wider repertoire of strategies, especially with regard to students who are ready to extend the curriculum standards.  Community Partnerships - The ECS department seeks to make curriculum content more authentic by enhancing the learning beyond the classroom, helping students answer "why they are learning what they are learning." These learning opportunities can take place during the school day and/or in an extracurricular fashion.

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Library Sara Slymon, Director

2017 was a tremendous year for the Public Libraries of Brookline. There have been many changes in all aspects of service and staffing, and we are pleased to have successfully made so many important transitions.

Service

Total circulation for all three libraries for the year was 1,121,598 items. This translates to 143 items per hour for every hour that the libraries were open.

The Library added some very interesting new services and programs to the library this year. The Brookline Library Foundation sponsored a vinyl record and record player collection. You can borrow records, as well as portable record players and Bluetooth headphones to go home and spin some platters. We have a collection of about 300 records, and a dozen record players. We cultivated a partnership with Newbury Comics to start the collection, they donated many “Newbury Comics Exclusive” records and were able to give us everything else at a discount.

The Library upgraded our microfiche and microfilm reader from the old style, which only provided the option to print in very blurry black and white, with a new digital reader which enables researchers to download to a portable drive, email documents, or upload to them to the cloud.

The Friends of the Library sponsored an iPad lending program. The staff at Putterham partnered with Easter Seals to acquire apps which help patrons with disabilities access technology. The program has been such a wild success that we anticipate expanding it to all three locations.

Putterham continued to blaze the way by launching a telescope lending pilot program. With only one telescope on offer, the wait list for patrons was over a year long. By the end of 2017, we had expanded the program to offer multiple telescopes at each location.

Circulation of virtual material continues to increase at a breakneck pace. We offer many services to stream video, take classes, read books, have books read to you, or listen to music. Hoopla, which is sponsored by the Brookline Library Foundation, increases it’s circulation in double digits every month, with a total increase of over 300% since launch.

The Children’s Department held 738 of programs (weekly story times for 0-5 years old, foreign language programming, singalongs, concerts and family yoga) this past year which were attended by over 26,000 patrons. We held our 6th

141 www.brooklinema.gov annual Fall Fest which entertained 200 patrons with mini-pumpkin decorating and a “guess the literary pumpkin” contest. The Children’s Department once again hosted the 90 Second Newbury Moviemaking Festival. The Festival is “an annual video contest in which young filmmakers create weird short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery- winning books in about a minute and a half.” The winners of this national competition are invited to a screening in a major city. In addition to offering many exciting story times, like Mother Goose on the Loose!, the Library offers story times in French, Hebrew, Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese.

Our Teen department ran 97 programs, including larger events run in partnership with either the Adult or Children's programming teams, and entertained 1,777 people over the year. Several safety and wellness programs were offered including: Home Alone Safety, CPR training, and Babysitting certification. The partnership with Girls Who Code continued in 2017 with two clubs running every week during the school year. The weekly teen Fandom Tuesday club celebrates any topic the teens are excited about, and meetings draw in an enthusiastic returning crowd who debate favorites, enjoy snacks, and make crafts. Many patrons come to enjoy a pie tasting contest on Pi Day (3/14), with pies provided by staff from their own kitchens.

In May, the library was crawling with superheroes as we celebrated Wonder Woman Day. Our annual Tee Off @ the Library, this June combining Star Wars with mini-golf adventures, was once again a successful family and adult event. In June, teens and their families were invited in for a panel discussion of 13 Reasons Why, the controversial teen suicide television show. After six months of careful planning, in November, we hosted a library-wide spectacular, interactive Harry Potter evening event. Staff and teen volunteers ran Triwizard Tournament themed activities and managed feasts for 900 fans of all ages.

Adult programming increased dramatically this year, with 619 programs for 8,399 attendees.

The Trustees of the Library formed a Long Range Planning Committee at the beginning of 2016. The resulting Public Library of Brookline Strategic Plan: FY18- FY22 deployed it’s first annual action plan in July of 2017.

The FY18 Annual Planning Action Document, can be found here: https://www.brooklinelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FY18ActionPlan.pdf

In July the Trustees generously funded a massive collection move at the Brookline Village library. The library was closed for 2 days so that we could bring the high value, high use collections upstairs and to the front of the building, where they would be most easily accessed by patrons. The project was branded Reimagining the Library, and was widely considered successful. The building now offers more seating, a higher level of accessibility as defined by ADA, and more areas to gather, read, study, or work collaboratively.

The whole plan can be found here: https://www.brooklinelibrary.org/about/policies/

The Town funded the CIP items that will enable the Coolidge Corner Library to be renovated, with additions of an elevator, replacement of carpeting, fresh paint, repointed bricks, a new roof, replacement of original 1970 windows, and improved fire alarms.

Since there was going to be so much work being done, the Board of Library Trustees and the Brookline Library Foundation partnered to donate $1,000,000 to the Town to augment the project. Items funded by the BOLT/BLF include: all new RFID technology, including an automated materials handler, noise mediation (including glassing in the children’s room, and sound proofing the program room), improved staff quarters in the long neglected mezzanine, and increased seating for the public to enjoy.

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The Friends have funded a restoration of the atrium garden, and a new Artist in Residence Program to add art to the parking spaces below the building.

We currently offer 68 electronic databases, most of which can be accessed from home computers or wireless devices. Some are provided by the State, some by the Massachusetts Library Network, and others through our membership in the Minuteman Library Network. MLN is a consortium of 43 public and academic libraries who work together to enhance service for library users. The library has many subscriptions to interesting databases and online services including Hoopla, for streaming movies, Flipster, for reading magazines, Consumer Reports Online for research, and TumbleBooks for early childhood literacy.

Technology has been very helpful to us in facilitating the way in which our patrons can borrow materials from other libraries, in 2017 Brookline residents borrowed 153,234 items from libraries outside of Brookline in the Minuteman network. These items usually arrived within a day or two of requests being placed on the computer, either remotely or at the library. Due to the widespread interests and acumen of Brookline residents the library borrows more books from other libraries than anyone else in the state with the exception of Cambridge. We are also a very generous lender with 125,285 items lent to other libraries in the state. Over the past ten years, the level of sharing among Minuteman libraries has increased 500%.

In addition to providing robust social media content through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and others, we have added several important new e-resources including Kanopy. Kanopy provides streaming video content, both educational and for entertainment: “We are proud to stream more than 26,00 films to over 3,00 higher education campuses worldwide, reaching millions of students around the globe. Our reach is now extending to public libraries across the world.” (Kanopy.com)

Trustees and Staff

The Board of Library Trustees consists of twelve members, serving staggered three year terms. The Board sets policy and oversees the management and operation of the library system.

The Trustees continued to avidly support the library by providing funding for books, library materials, professional development and continuing education, and staff meetings. The Trustees augmented the budget provided by the Town by over $200,000.

Magdalene Moran resigned from the Board in 2017. Karen Livingston and Gary Jones were successfully re-elected in the spring election. Chris Chanyasulkit won election in May.

In the spring of 2018, Trustees Carol Axelrod, Regina Healy, and Vivien Goldman will be eligible for re-election.

The library community deeply grieved the death of two of it’s most wonderful members:

Liz Mellett passed away after a long struggle with brain cancer in September. Liz had worked for the library for over 30 years, and served many years as a distinguished reference librarian. Liz’s love of mysteries helped the library to offer an amazing and diverse mystery section. She is deeply missed.

Zoya Spezhakov passed away in the fall after a battle with cancer. Much admired by the Coolidge Corner community, and the Russian patrons, Zoya was a page at Coolidge. She loved her work and approached it with zeal and humor. She is very much missed.

We experienced several important resignations on the staff in 2017.

Pei Mu retired in November from many years of service to the Coolidge Corner community. Pei was diligent, detail oriented, hard working, and kind. She worked hard on the Chinese periodicals collection, but was willing to pitch in with any project.

Catherine Dooley retired after over 20 years of service. Cathy served the library as a Reference Librarian and as the Branch Supervisor of the Coolidge Corner Library. Cathy loved serving the Coolidge Corner community

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Mary Bergman retired after over 40 years of service. Mary was a Cataloging Librarian in the Technical Services Department of the library for her entire tenure with the library. Mary had an encyclopedic knowledge of cataloging rules and practices. Mary was diligent and dedicated in the execution of her duties.

Ting Yin retired from the library after over 20 years of service to the Coolidge Corner community. Ting excelled at developing the Chinese Language collection at Coolidge Corner, long one of the largest and most heavily circulating collections in the state.

Nancy Chadburn was a long time library assistant at the Coolidge Corner library who retired and moved back home to the Midwest. Nancy was an intellectual, always watching out for something new to learn, or some valuable undiscovered treasure in the collection.

Additional departures includes Librarians Stephen Nedell, Araceli Hintermeister, Kelly Unsworth, Quinn Morris- Pearson, and Andy Moore. Library Assistants Maddalena Ranieri, Maryam Karimi, Jenny Seicol, Sally Rubinstein, Maria Rolsal, Michael Cultrera, and Sam Hunter, and pages Nona Woodle, Bradley Sidman, and Daniella Shakiryzavoa, and houseworkers Gabriel Barboza and Messaoud Kerris.

We are happy to announce that the following employees were promoted: Roy Mackenzie, Brenda Craig, Haley Robertson, Bryan Kreusch, Sebastien Sulser, Jesse Ellis, Melinda Carr, Hope Genty, Kenny Yim, Gina Wise, Batia Bloomenthal, and Becca Bastron.

Full time staff members work 37 hours per week, including evening, Saturday and Sunday hours. Educational backgrounds include English, History, Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Music and Computer Science.

Part time staff members work a variety of different schedules, but also include evening and weekend hours.

The staff is fluent in a number of different languages including Hebrew, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, American Sign Language, French, Greek, Hungarian, Mongolian, Yiddish, and Portuguese.

The library currently has 94 total employees, 31 of whom hold Masters Degrees in Library Science.

Friends

The Friends of the Brookline Public Library were established as an independent 501 © 3 corporation in 1981. Through an ongoing booksale the Friends raise funds to supplement and enhance library services. They have sponsored a growing number of programs including storytellers, musicians, magicians, green initiatives, senior socials, film festivals, and other educational and entertaining events.

In 2017 the Friends authorized funding for the complete restoration of the atrium garden inside the Coolidge Corner library. Over the years the skylight has become opaque and the plants in the atrium have struggled to get the natural light that they need to survive. Once the skylight is replaced, they will have new, mature plants and trees installed to restore the atrium to it’s former glory.

The Friends also sponsor a great many staff development and continuing education opportunities, which enable the staff to offer the best and most current library practices to the community. In 2017 the Friends sent many staff to the American Library Associations Midwinter Conference, as well as some staff to Massachusetts Library Association Conference, LeakyCon, BookExpo America, DPLA Fest, Digital Commonwealth, and many more.

With so many immigrants in Brookline, one of the most valuable services that the Friends sponsor is their ESL classes. Free instruction to people who want to learn English is offered at the Coolidge Corner Branch.

The Friends are always looking for volunteers to help with the events discussed above, as well as with other ongoing activities. Please ask for a brochure next time you visit the library, or visit:

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Brookline Library Foundation

The Brookline Library Foundation was incorporated in 1999 as an independent non-profit 501 © 3 corporation, whose initial purpose was to raise funds in support of the renovation of the Main Library. After contributing more than $4 million for the Main Library renovation project, the Foundation continues to raise funds through an annual mailing and it’s annual Midwinter Mingle. The Foundation has made significant contributions to enhance the programs, services, and facilities offered at all three branches.

In 2017, the Foundation generously voted to contribute $500,000 of their funds to support the Coolidge Corner renovation. The Foundation has a distinguished history of supporting capital projects for the library, starting with the 2003 renovation of the Main Library, and including renovations of Putterham, the Coolidge Corner Children’s Room, and the Putterham Garden.

This year the Foundation has given the library $30,000 for technology improvements, including the addition of laptop carts (forthcoming!), digital signage, and Transit Screens which will provide up to the minute MBTA information.

The Foundation continues to fund our extremely popular Museum Pass program, and now sponsors many of our digital resources as well as most of our Children’s programming.

Brookline Library Music Foundation

Brookline Library Music Foundation celebrates its 64th year this year. They presented six free concerts in 2017 at the Main Library, to the delight of over 675 attendees. As always the concerts featured a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and modern.

Conclusion

I want to thank the Trustees, Foundation, Friends, and people of Brookline for your robust support of the Public Library of Brookline. I would like to thank the staff for all of your hard work, creativity, innovation and devotion to the highest level of service to the Brookline community; it is an honor to lead such a dedicated group of individuals. The Trustees and Staff all appreciate the support of the Select Board, Advisory Committee, Town Meeting, and other municipal departments. We look forward to 2018.

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Brookline Interactive Group Kathy Bisbee, Director

Welcome to BIG - Brookline Interactive Group - your community media center, where inspiration gives voice to expression. We have had an exciting year, powered by a phenomenal staff, who with our interns, members, and community partners form the team that has enabled BIG to become internationally-recognized as a leader in the worlds of community media and virtual reality, while simultaneously serving our town, our local youth and adult community members with ever-expanding educational programming, production services, and media-making resources.

We’ve continued to grow our educational offerings and founded the nation’s first Public VR Lab, a project of BIG, whose mission is to facilitate a public dialogue and projects around new VR/XR-related technologies; support the community creation of 360, virtual and augmented content, provide access to tools and headsets; and generate socially-relevant and locally-focused public interest VR experiences.

BIG is recognized as a thought-leader, a leader nationally in the community media field in envisioning the future for public media as a relevant and vital part of every community, serving as a conduit between technology, media-making and expression for all community members.

Education is a core element of BIG’s mission, as teaching and empowering members of the Brookline Community to create their own media is one of our primary goals. This year we’ve watched our students, members, volunteers and staff create timely, relevant local content, watched by the community at public forums, on our community cable channels, as journalistic reports, online and in social media.

In 2017, BIG provided over 27 after school programs serving over 267 k-12 youth at Brookline Public Schools, taught extensive media education courses and provided educational coverage through programs in Brookline Public Schools and throughout the Brookline community. Thanks to BIG's continued partnerships with Brookline High School, Gateway Arts, Ivy Street School, Brookline Adult and Community Education (BACE), Brookline Recreation, Brookline Early Education Program, individual K-8 schools and PTO and enrichment groups.

As part of BIG’s innovative collaboration with BHS and BPS, BIG supports Brookline High School teachers and students through providing media and technology classes, trainings, opportunities, computer equipment and labs, and facility maintenance. BIG partners with teachers, departments and programs at BHS, including BHS Performing Arts, to cover monthly arts and theater events, holds meetings for departments at the high school, covers BHS graduation, provides internship and volunteer opportunities for its students, and hosts gatherings, screenings, film festivals, and programs in collaboration with Race Reels, the 21st Century Fund, and other organizations. We cover BHS’s graduation, Days of Dialogue, professional development days, and hold convenings for department heads, nurses, and faculty members. BIG’s new job training program in 2017 had Brookline High School students participate in the launch of “Crowdsourced Cinema” a collaborative art BIG continued its partnership with Brookline Adult and project to remake the famous film, Back to the Future. Community Education (BACE) to offer media-focused classes for adults in BIG’s space, as well as programming

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“Initially contacting strangers at 86 Dummer Street about my film idea was infinitely easier as a production grantee with Brookline Interactive Group. These credentials literally opened doors for me. BIG’s staff was patient, informative, and provided generous support in the filmmaking process that was a wonderful part of the experience, along with sharing along the way with my grantee cohorts.”

-Brookline Resident and filmmaker, Aynsley Floyd

Betty, A Dummer Street resident featured in the film

BIG averages 251 users in its public and education-related spaces on a daily basis. Half of that usage is student use of the facilities during and after school. For the past three years, BIG has seen the total usage at 86,700 person visits, with over 2200 members in its database. On average, BIG’s member created 16 LIVE cable television shows every month in 2017, and produced hundreds of hours of locally-relevant content.

In April of 2017, BIG’s project, the Public VR Lab focused on making VR/AR storytelling accessible in Brookline and beyond. We first hosted an Eco-Hackathon, with 150 registrants producing educational content in AR, VR, WebVR and 360 filmmaking over the course of Earth Day weekend. In the fall, we partnered with the Boston Globe’s STAT news team to train them on how to create 360 films and co-produced three short films that were featured at Hubweek. The Lab and BIG’s team were invited to Nairobi, Kenya to demo a customized global air pollution VR experience at the United Nations Environment Assembly to over 800 world leaders to consider the implications of storytelling in this new medium. In 2017, BIG created an augmented reality experience along the Boston Marathon route on Beacon Street in Brookline, where residents could download an app and “catch” stories from locals about their marathon experiences. BIG collaborated with the Town of Brookline to create a WebVR experience showcasing the town’s public art and monuments. All of these pioneering projects can be viewed online at publicvrlab.com.

Through members, students, staff, interns, partner organizations and volunteers, BIG has generated, over 1632 hours of content in the past three fiscal years. In FY2016-17, BIG’s resources resulted in over 776 hours of content.

 Government - 238 programs (3.5hrs weekly average) 833 hrs over 3 years.

 Educational- 285 programs (2 hrs weekly average) 570 hrs over 3 years.

 Public- 322 programs (45 minute weekly average) 241.5 hrs over 3 years

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BIG is a co-sponsor and partner of many media-related projects in the community, in collaboration with non-profit organizations and Town committees, including Race Reels, the JFK anniversary events, CAN, Climate Action, Brookline Library, the Brookline Teen Center, Steps to Success, Age Friendly Cities, Sister Cities, the Chamber of Commerce, the Martin Luther King Day events, the 21st Century Fund, BEF, BCF, Women and Girls Thriving in Brookline, the Brookline Arts Center, Brookline Mental Health Center, the Chamber, Team Brookline, community art shows and events, and many others. Families and organizations can rent BIG’s 25-seat theatre, conference room, and studio spaces for birthday parties, kickoff events, or to collaborate with BIG as a co-sponsor of media and technology training programs or a film series by signing up via email at [email protected].

BIG also provides low-cost media services such as printing and banner creation, graphic design, promotional videos, specialized media and technology trainings, and develops websites for community groups, individuals and small businesses.

View BIG’s community-created content, live streaming and archive of local government meetings, coverage of local events, news, and digital storytelling segments on Comcast (Channel 3, 23) and RCN (Channel 3, 15, and HD 613), and on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/BrooklineAccessBATV or by visiting our web site at http://brooklineinteractive.org/ to see the LIVE cable stream. Or check out our newest project and sign up for VR/XR demos at the PublicVRlab.com.

Hope to see you at BIG this year!

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Planning And Community Development Alison C. Steinfeld, Director

The Department of Planning and Community Development is responsible for planning activities and projects that are focused on preserving and enhancing the quality of life of Brookline residents by protecting and improving neighborhoods; insuring quality development consistent with the Town’s by-laws; defining and promoting appropriate economic development; and safeguarding and advancing the amenities that make Brookline a desirable place in which to live, work and invest. These activities include reviewing development and redevelopment projects; working with developers, property owners and regulatory boards to refine proposals; preserving the community’s historic and cultural integrity; providing a range of housing opportunities; strengthening and expanding the tax base; promoting energy and sustainability initiatives; exploring grant opportunities; and administering the federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Programs. The Department is also responsible for identifying and examining long-term planning issues and initiatives of importance to the community. The Department provides professional and administrative staff support to a host of boards, commissions and committees and works closely with other municipal departments. Consistent with Town policy, the Planning Department is committed to engaging the public, informing and educating the private sector about planning projects, and performing its responsibilities in a transparent manner.

The Planning Department consists of three divisions: Regulatory Planning, Community Planning, and Economic Development and Long-Term Planning, each led by a division head under the supervision of the Planning Director, Alison Steinfeld. Administrative support is provided by Linda Hickey and Derick Yung. Planners, who represent diverse disciplines within the profession, are encouraged to share ideas and expertise in order to promote and support the best interests of the Town as well as expand their own professional knowledge and experience. This team approach extends to working with other municipal departments as well as the School Department.

REGULATORY PLANNING

The Regulatory Planning Division focuses on activities related to land use regulations, including zoning, subdivisions, and historic preservation. The Town’s land use regulatory functions are performed by both the Planning and Building Departments, requiring interaction and cooperation within and between the departments as well as boards and commissions. The Division also helps coordinate the Town’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, although not technically regulatory functions. The division is managed by Assistant Director for Regulatory Planning Polly Selkoe. Regulatory staff consists of Senior Planner Maria Morelli, Zoning Administrator and Planner Ashley Clark, Planner Karen Martin, and Preservation Planners Meghan Hanrahan Richard and Tonya Loveday.

Regulatory Planners provide staff support to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Planning Board, Design Advisory Teams (DATs), Zoning By-law Committee, Preservation Commission, Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (NCDC) and the Select Board’s Climate Action Committee (CAC). They guide applicants through the special permit, variance, design review, demolition, Comprehensive Permit, and preservation processes; and provide professional advice and guidance to the regulatory boards. The Regulatory Division also conducts research to guide the physical development of the community, protects the historical integrity of Brookline while helping to plan for changes to the built environment, prepares and reviews zoning amendments for consideration and approval by Town Meeting, and promotes energy efficiency and sustainability by both the public and private sectors. The Division’s success is dependent upon a solid and effective working relationship with the Building Department, which is reinforced by weekly meetings to share information and discuss specific projects. This relationship has been further strengthened by the recent introduction of Accela, a permitting software program introduced by the Information Technology Department with significant input by the user departments. It has been a collaborative effort and, although still a work in progress, is evolving into an extraordinarily helpful tool for both staff and the public.

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ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The ZBA is a three-member quasi-judicial board that is responsible for reviewing and approving applications for relief by special permit and variance from the requirements of the Zoning By-law in accordance with the Massachusetts Zoning Act—G.L. Chapter 40A as well as the Subdivision Control Act. The ZBA is also statutorily charged with the responsibility of ruling on Comprehensive Permit applications to construct affordable housing under G.L. Chapter 40B. The Board is comprised of three members: Chairman Jesse Geller, Christopher Hussey and Mark Zuroff; and four Associate Members who sit when regular members are unable to do so due to absence or conflict-of-interest: Johanna Schneider, Kate Poverman, Stephen Chiumenti and newly-appointed Randolph Meiklejohn. The Town is grateful for the service of all of the members, including Jonathan Book who served as a full member for several years but did not seek reappointment in mid-2017.

The Board typically meets weekly and hears two to three 40A cases each week. Members also serve on panels to hear Comprehensive Permit cases under Chapter 40B. These Zoning Board of Appeals projects, which seek to expedite review of affordable housing projects under the jurisdiction of one permitting authority—the Zoning Board of Appeals –are typically contentious and require a significant commitment of time and effort by both the ZBA members and Planning Department. Each of the members has been diligent in representing the interests of the Town and the neighborhood to the maximum extent possible within the statutory constraints imposed by Chapter 40B. These constraints are significant—and often frustrating.

Representatives of the Town, neighborhood and Chestnut Hill Realty, owner of Hancock Village as well as several other properties throughout Brookline, agreed to prepare a Master Development Plan for the future of Hancock Village as an alternative to The Residences of South Brookline (an approved Comprehensive Permit for 161 units) and Puddingstone at Chestnut Hill. The hope and expectation amongst the parties during an extensive negotiation process was that an agreed-upon plan, although not perfect, would better promote the interests of the Town, property owner, and neighborhood. A Master Development Plan providing for the final buildout of Hancock Village, was, in fact, generated and submitted to Town Meeting. Unfortunately, Town Meeting failed to approve the plan with the requisite 2/3 majority necessary for amendments to the Zoning By-law. In December, Chestnut Hill Realty reactivated the Puddingstone Comprehensive Permit, which had been placed on hold pending Town Meeting action; it is likely that the property owner will apply for a Building Permit to construct ROSB (potentially, although not necessarily, after litigation is resolved.)

Planning Board

The Planning Board consists of volunteer citizens appointed by the Select Board: Chairman Steven Heikin, Clerk Robert Cook, Linda Hamlin, Blair Hines, Matthew Oudens, Mark Zarrillo and James Carr who was appointed in fall 2017 to fill a vacancy on the Board.

Based on professional advice provided by the Planning Department, the Planning Board makes recommendations to the ZBA on all development proposals that require zoning relief under G.L. Chapter 40A; and reviews all proposed commercial signage and awnings, façade alterations, and wireless telecommunication facilities. The Planning Board also convenes Design Advisory Teams (DATs), Design Review Teams (DRTs), and less formal “design groups” to work with the applicant on design aspects of larger projects; reviews and makes recommendations on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP); and provides recommendations to Town Meeting relative to land use matters. Many Board members also serve as liaisons to other Town committees, including the Moderator’s Committee on Zoning, Open Space Committee, Housing Advisory Board and an ad-hoc committee overseeing the Strategic Asset Plan and Major Parcel Study.

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Planners worked with several DATs during 2017. Proposals included the Hilton Garden Inn at 700 Brookline Avenue, a 15-unit apartment building at 54 Auburn Street, and the former Dunkin’ Donuts site at 20 Boylston Street.

The Planning Board and ZBA reviewed a total of 98 zoning applications for new dwellings, additions, conversions of existing dwellings for additional units, and construction of new commercial structures and uses, including renovations to the Audi dealership on Route 9, a mixed-use building at 1028 Commonwealth Avenue, and many smaller proposals. Given the strong real estate market and Brookline’s strategic location relative to Boston and the Longwood Medical Area specifically, the Planning Department as well as the regulatory bodies to which it provides staff support has witnessed an increased workload in recent years.

Zoning By-Law Amendments

The Planning Board conducted the statutorily required public hearings for zoning amendments submitted to Town Meeting. At Spring Town Meeting, there were two zoning amendments submitted by the Planning Department, both of which were adopted. The first was a moratorium on recreational marijuana to ensure that the Town’s regulations would not conflict with pending State regulations and to allow time for relevant Town Departments and the Licensing Review Committee to formulate a by-law with appropriate safeguards. The second amendment was to allow administrative approval of certain signs and awnings. Six warrant articles were submitted related to the Hancock Village Master Development Plan and, although there was a majority vote in support of them, the 2/3 majority for passage of zoning amendments was not met. The Planning Board also reviewed and supported revisions to the Zoning By-Law to replace “Select Board” with gender-neutral language.

PRESERVATION

Preservation Planners are dedicated to protecting, restoring, and preserving Brookline’s historical, architectural and cultural assets; encouraging a healthy preservation and development climate; and advising property owners regarding historical and technical restoration procedures as well as mechanisms to protect specific properties and neighborhoods. Planners provide professional and technical staff support to the Preservation Commission and Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. The Preservation Planners also regularly aid constituents with research and general inquiries related to preservation planning. In addition, the Preservation Planners provide technical expertise to various Town Departments regarding proposed work on Town-owned historic properties.

With the support of Planning Department staff, the Preservation Commission is responsible for the educational, cultural, physical, economic and general public welfare through preservation of the historical and cultural assets of Brookline, including buildings, sites and districts of historical and architectural significance. It also encourages the development of appropriate uses and settings for such buildings and places. Appointed by the Select Board, the Preservation Commission consists of Chair David King, Vice-Chair Elton Elperin, James Batchelor, Wendy Ecker, Rosemary Battles Foy and Peter Kleiner. Commission alternates include David Jack, and Ricard Panciera.

Local Historic Districts

The Town has eight Local Historic Districts (LHDs): Pill Hill, Cottage Farm, Graffam-McKay, Harvard Avenue, Chestnut Hill North, Lawrence, Wild-Sargent and Crowninshield. LHD-designation imposes constraints, established by carefully-articulated design guidelines, on changes to the exterior of properties in order to protect the historic integrity of the district. In 2017, the Planning Department received 125 applications for exterior work in these districts. Preservation Planners often work with applicants early in the design phase to ensure that proposed work is in keeping with the Design Guidelines for LHDs.

Demolition

The Preservation Commission is responsible for reviewing projects under the Demolition Delay By-Law. Buildings facing partial or complete demolition, as defined by by-law, are evaluated by the Preservation Planners to determine their historical and/or architectural significance before a demolition or building permit may be issued. If the Planners determine that the property is significant or potentially significant, the matter is referred to the Preservation Commission. If it deems the property significant, a 12-month demolition delay or, in the case of

151 www.brooklinema.gov buildings listed on or deemed eligible for listing on the National or State Register of Historic Places, an 18-month delay is imposed.

The Preservation Commission reviewed 65 applications for demolition in 2017, of which 31 were ultimately found significant by the Commission. The Preservation Commission may agree to lift the stay of demolition early in exchange for design review and approval of the new construction or proposed alteration. Preservation Planners regularly work with property owners in the early stages of project planning to develop alternative designs in order to avoid triggering review under the Demolition Delay By-law and to protect the historic attributes of the property. In 2017, the Commission received 20 such requests, and lifted the stay on all but one—a testament to the effectiveness of the Demolition Delay By-law that encourages parties to work together to develop alternatives to demolition.

Certified Local Government and Town-owned Historic Buildings

The Town is a Certified Local Government (CLG), which allows for a close integration of federal, state, and local preservation activities. By extending state and federal programs to the local level, the CLG program allows the Town to apply for survey and planning grant funding. In 2017, the Town was awarded $20,000 to hire a preservation consultant to conduct a neighborhood survey of historic resources in the Aspinwall Hill area. The pre-application for a second survey round, as well as a pre-application for funding to hire a consultant to revise the Town’s Demolition By-Law, was also submitted in 2017.

Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs)

The Neighborhood Conservation District Commission is charged with establishing rules, regulations and procedures for NCDs, and reviewing projects in the Town’s two NCDs: Hancock Village and Greater Toxteth. Commissioners include Chair Dick Garver, Vice-Chair Paul Bell, Dennis DeWitt, Deborah Goldberg, David Jack and Robin Koocher; and Alternates Mark Allen and Stephen Chiumenti. The Commission has been working on design standards to supplement the existing guidelines for the Greater Toxteth NCD.

Climate Action and Sustainability

Maintaining and promoting energy efficiency and sustainability are critical functions of the Planning Department. Senior Planner Maria Morelli focuses 50% of her time on a variety of energy-related issues including providing staff support to the Climate Action Committee (CAC). The CAC, chaired by Select Board Member Nancy Heller and Werner Lohe, focuses on climate, energy, and sustainability initiatives. Some of the specific activities and accomplishments in 2017 include:

 The CAC prepared a Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Action Plan (CAP) for 2018 to focus on a greenhouse gas reduction goal of 80% by 2050.  The Planning Department secured a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources for $233,000 for the installation of LED lights in several municipal buildings and on street poles along the new Emerald Necklace bike path.  The Town launched Brookline Green Electricity to purchase electricity on behalf of residents and businesses. The program default product provides 25% more renewable energy in addition to what the State requires, making Brookline’s program a leader nationwide.  With the help of a $20,000 State Community Compact grant, the Town worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to conduct an assessment of populations and infrastructure vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, and precipitation. Working with MAPC, a team of representing a wide range of municipal departments as well as two representatives each from the CAC and Climate Action Brookline, led the development of the assessment and action items. The report was submitted to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in order to apply for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness designation to make the Town eligible for grant funding.  A CAC subcommittee, charged with exploring best practices, financial models, and challenges associated with Net Zero, worked with the Building Department and Building Commission to guide future policies for municipal buildings.

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 The Transportation Access Plan Guidelines were updated to include recommendations that major impact projects have 2% of their parking spaces installed with charging stations and an additional 15% of parking spaces are electric vehicle-ready.

COMMUNITY PLANNING

Joe Viola, Assistant Director for Community Planning, manages the Community Planning Division, which includes Housing and Community Development sub-components and addresses other general planning issues. Andy Martineau, previously an Economic Development-Long Term Planner with the Department, transferred to the Community Planning Division to expand his professional expertise in the position of Community Planner. Former CDBG Fiscal Officer Ewana Lindo-Smith joined the division in January in the role of Community Development Administrator. They join Virginia Bullock, Senior Housing Planner, and David Guzman, Housing Planner.

Community Development

For almost four decades, the Town of Brookline has been the recipient of an annual federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs targeted principally toward low- and moderate-income persons. Although funds are allocated via formula, securing and administering the grant involves a tremendous amount of effort and requires strict attention to federal regulations. The use of CDBG funding is guided by the Town’s Five Year Consolidated Plan and Strategy, prepared in 2015. Each year, staff oversees the creation of the Town’s Annual Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap for the use of CDBG funds in the current fiscal year.

Approximately $2.6 million in grant funds were administered during Fiscal Years 2017-2018, which span calendar year 2017. In addition to many public services that serve elders, youth and other eligible populations, federal funds helped the Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) to address its portfolio-wide capital improvement needs. CDBG funds were also allocated for programs including the Parks and Open Space Division’s landscape improvements to the Brookline Avenue playground, design and legal costs for the Town’s Gateway East project, and JCHE’s senior housing project at Temple Kehillath Israel.

As in past years, staff shepherded the use of CDBG funds to support affordable housing, public facilities, and social services targeted to the Town’s most vulnerable populations while continuing to meet HUD’s ever-evolving and increasingly complex administrative and technical reporting requirements. Staff was able to integrate CDBG and HOME funds within the Town’s overall planning program and, whenever possible, leverage other private, state and federal dollars through the commitment of Town-controlled dollars to various projects. Staff also closely monitored Congressional activities relative to the CDBG Program and worked with HUD and the National Community Development Association to stay current on regulations, policies and procedures.

Community Development Advisory Committee

Citizen participation is a key component of the CDBG Program. Not only is it required by the Program, it is consistent with Town policy to engage the public in decision-making. In advance of the new fiscal year, staff assisted the Community Development Advisory Committee in conducting several public meetings to deliberate on grant requests, with the process culminating in a funding recommendation to the Select Board. In July 2017, the Select Board held a public hearing to approve a $1.3 million CDBG budget as part of its approval of the Town’s Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Action Plan.

WestMetro HOME Consortium

Housing Planners have participated in the WestMetro HOME Consortium since 1991, along with Newton, Waltham and Watertown. Bedford, Belmont, Framingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Natick, Needham, and Sudbury have recently joined the Consortium. Since its founding, the Consortium has distributed over $35 million in HOME funds to its members, and provided grants and loans of HOME funds to for-and non-profit developers and directly to low- income households to create hundreds of units of affordable housing. HOME funds utilized and overseen by

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Brookline’s Housing Planners have leveraged millions in other public and private funds to produce affordable units.

HOUSING

Housing Planners focused on creating, preserving, and improving affordable rental and ownership housing by working with the Housing Advisory Board (HAB) and Select Board to channel the appropriate Town-controlled resources into development projects as opportunities arise. Staff assisted households with incomes ranging from extremely low income (less than 30% of area median income—AMI) to upper-moderate income (up to 110% of AMI).

The Housing Office has been faced with the challenge of operating with decreased federal, state and private housing development resources as well as changing tax and funding policies at the federal level. Federal funds must be committed to projects and expended in much more abbreviated timeframes than in the past, making it more difficult to amass funds in order to leverage private funding to support and create affordable housing.

While there were no developer-funded contributions to the Housing Trust via inclusionary zoning during 2017, Housing Planners continued to engage developers in discussions regarding required cash payments to the trust as a number of projects move from permitting toward construction.

Housing Development

The Town’s Inclusionary Zoning By-law is designed to generate new affordable housing units serving households below 50%, 80% and 100% of Area Median Income. The Housing Planners continued to work with other Planners to insure that the By-law was applied appropriately to proposed housing development that fell within the purview of the By-law.

In 2017, with the recommendation of the HAB and approval by the Select Board, the Town was able to commit $2.5 million for a senior housing project at 370 Harvard St. Being developed by the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE), this project will contain 62 affordable units for low- and moderate-income seniors. The Town anticipates that eleven of these units will be subsidized with HOME funds. The JCHE project received ZBA approval of its Comprehensive Permit in March, 2017. Staff will participate in the closing process when JCHE receives its final funding allocation from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

Community Planning staff worked with the Select Board-appointed Kent-Station Street Senior Housing Committee to explore a proposal for air rights development of affordable senior housing over the Kent-Station Street Parking Lot, with retention of the public parking on the site. The Committee worked with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership to explore feasibility and discussed the creation of a Request for Information that would be released to engage the development community about potential site development.

Housing Advisory Board (HAB)

Housing staff continued to provide technical support to the HAB, which is charged with recommending housing policies, plans, and programs to the Select Board, particularly those related to promoting affordable housing. The HAB also serves as trustee of the Town’s Housing Trust and, in that capacity, recommends to the Select Board appropriate investments that will help expand, support and preserve the supply of subsidized housing. HAB membership includes Roger Blood (Chair); Steven Heikin (Planning Board representative); Michael Jacobs (Brookline Housing Authority representative); Karen Kepler; Bill Madsen-Hardy, Rita McNally (tenant representative) and Alice Wong.

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Over the past year, the HAB deliberated over a number of housing policy issues and funding recommendations to the Select Board. In addition to the substantial commitment to the JCHE project, the Board recommended the use of Trust funds to enable the Brookline Improvement Coalition to purchase and hold a foreclosed condominium unit in preparation for its resale and retention as an affordable unit. The HAB and Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) had a number of discussions about the Authority’s Strategic Plan to renovate its seven federal public housing properties and the possibility of creating additional infill units within certain developments. HAB members expressed support for the potential use of Town-controlled resources to fund predevelopment costs that would aid BHA’s efforts to leverage tax credits and other federal and state resources. Related to zoning and land use, the Board discussed possible changes to the Town’s Inclusionary Zoning by-law, whether to support the State’s zoning reform legislation designed to increase state-wide housing production, and how to support the efforts of the Kent-Station Street Senior Housing Committee as it looks to determine feasibility for the reuse of the site.

Homebuyer Assistance

The Housing Office continued to provide homebuyer and renter counseling for those seeking affordable housing in Brookline. Housing Planners managed the resale process of six deed-restricted affordable homeownership units involving affirmative marketing, selecting income-eligible households by lottery, determining eligibility, and providing technical assistance to households purchasing the units. Staff assisted two homebuyers in refinancing existing units purchased under the Homebuyer Assistance Program.

Creation and Preservation of Affordable Housing Opportunities

Housing Planners continued to work with for- and non-profit agencies to preserve existing affordable rental housing and to provide technical assistance related to the creation of new units. In 2017, staff administered the use of over $380,000 in CDBG grant funding to the BHA for capital improvement projects at several of its developments and were able to successfully program and oversee the use of $237,000 in HOME program income by the BHA for capital improvements to its Trustman Development. Staff also worked with Hebrew Senior Life as it looked to refinance of a number of its properties on Centre Street.

Affordability Monitoring

Housing staff is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the Affordability Requirements of homeownership and rental projects, with each development subject to its own set of regulatory documents. Staff monitored 455 rental units at 17 properties to assure continued service to eligible tenants at affordable rents as well as 160 affordable condominium units to confirm continued owner occupancy. Housing Planners have provided invaluable advice and guidance during the Comprehensive Permit processes. They were also instrumental in helping to create the documentation for the Hancock Village Master Development Plan to assure the creation and retention of subsidized units for eligible tenants as well as insure their inclusion on the Town’s SHI.

Hubway Planning staff worked with MAPC and the Cities of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville to execute a contract with an operator for the Hubway Bicycle Share System, Motivate International, Inc. After contracting with Motivate, the Hubway communities and the operator were able procure a title sponsor for the Hubway System, which will lead to expansion for the entire system, including up to nine additional stations in Brookline.

Gateway East After years of planning including extensive opportunities for public engagement, the Town advanced the Gateway East Project by hosting a 25% Design Public Hearing in April and by submitting 75% design plans to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. In late 2017, the Town was authorized by MassDOT to enter into negotiations with affected property owners to secure temporary or permanent easements needed for the project. The project is on track to secure State funding in calendar year 2018 and begin construction in late 2018.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM PLANNING

The Economic Development and Long-Term Planning (EDALT) Division works to enhance tax growth from commercial properties; aid the growth of existing businesses and attract new businesses; improve the functional and aesthetic qualities of public space in commercial areas; and lead long-range planning efforts for the Town. Under the supervision of Kara Brewton, Economic Development Director, the Division was joined this year by Economic Development and Long-Term Planners Francisco Torres and Trevor Johnson.

Co-Working Space Grows in Brookline

Co-working spaces attract innovative start-up businesses, generate local jobs, enhance neighborhood vitality, and support area residents during job and career transitions. In 2017, the Town approved a façade improvement loan to one of our co-working businesses, The Village Works at 202 Washington Street. This loan helped to fund repair masonry, upgrade windows and provide a more accessible front door to one of the oldest commercial buildings in Brookline Village (circa 1869). With a support letter from the Town, The Village Works also received a $10,000 grant from MassDevelopment’s Collaborative Workspace Program for soundproofing and audio-visual equipment.

Other Small Business Assistance Technical assistance resulted in the opening of several new storefronts in calendar year 2017: Allium Market, Curds and Co., and Oath Pizza. EDALT staff also continued to support commercial areas events led by other community organizations, including the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival, Village Fair, and First Light Festival.

Construction at Cleveland Circle and Brookline Place The garage at 1 and 2-4 Brookline Place was rebuilt in 2017 on schedule; the next phase of construction is a 230,000 square-foot medical office building for Children’s Hospital Boston. National Development completed most of the development at 375 Chestnut Hill Avenue in Cleveland Circle. This hotel and assisted living development is located in both Boston and Brookline, including a restaurant and 68 hotel rooms in Brookline. Once completed, these two projects together are estimated to generate more than $2.5 million of new tax revenue per year to Brookline.

Economic Development Advisory Board The Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) seeks to strengthen and expand the commercial tax base to support Town programs and services. Additionally, EDAB works to increase the value of commercial properties by promoting the vitality of our commercial areas and supporting our small businesses. EDAB is led by Co-Chairs Anne Meyers and Paul Saner; members include Cliff Brown, Derrick Choi, Alan Christ, Susan Houston, Carol Levin, Kenneth Lewis, Thomas Nally, Marilyn Newman, Alden Raine, and Donald A. Warner.

Over the past several years, EDAB has recommended to the Select Board that it create committees to study commercial development at the property- or block-specific level. These committees are led by Select Board members and analyze zoning, mitigation and public benefits. For example, the Coolidge Corner Study Committee began in 2017 analyzing the Holiday Inn site at 1200 Beacon Street, and a potential mixed-use hotel/residential development at the site of the Waldo and Durgin garages on the southwest corner of Pleasant and John Streets.

As part of its multi-year “Planning for a Changing Brookline” series, EDAB heard from many residents, businesses, and property owners a desire to study larger stretches of commercial neighborhoods at once. Through a survey conducted by MAPC, EDAB learned that a majority of respondents wanted to see more technology-related businesses (including startups, business incubators and maker-spaces). Additionally, more than 89% of respondents noted they would support retail/housing and retail/office developments in our commercial districts. MAPC will complete a Commercial Areas Vision report in 2018, including specific recommendations for each commercial district.

Strategic Asset Plan and Major Parcel Study Brookline has diverse landscapes, development patterns, and ever-changing community needs influenced by local preferences and regional pressures. Even in recent years during which the Town has not seen significant population or housing unit increases, demographic changes continue to challenge Town services. To better understand current conditions, future trends, longer-term capital and service needs, and the potential for change of larger properties within the Town, a Planning Board subcommittee began work on a Strategic Asset Plan and

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Major Parcel Study. Chaired by Planning Board member Bob Cook, the Subcommittee included Select Board Chair Neil Wishinsky, former Select Board Chair Betsy DeWitt, Advisory Committee Vice-Chair Carla Benka, Brookline Neighborhood Alliance Board member Lynda Roseman, and Building Commission member George Cole. While the bulk of their work was completed in 2017, the final reports are anticipated to be issued in early 2018. These companion studies provide information, analysis and a toolkit of choices for the Town to use in the next 5 to 15 years to continue to provide a high quality of life amidst change.

Brookline Housing Authority

The Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) is an independent public agency established in 1948 under MGL Ch. 121B that provides affordable housing and extensive resident services. The BHA collaborates closely with the Town of Brookline.

Board of Commissioners The Board consists of five Commissioners, four of whom are elected by Town voters. The fifth is appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth. One member is a resident of Housing Authority property. All serve five-year terms.

David Trietsch, Chairman Michael Jacobs, Vice Chairman Barbara Dugan, Treasurer (Resident Representative) Joanne Sullivan, Commissioner Judy Katz, Commissioner (Governor’s Appointee)

Senior Staff Patrick Dober, Executive Director Matthew Baronas, Assistant Director Carole Brown, Director of Subsidized Housing & Applications (retired January 2017) Sharon Cowan, Director of Modernization Geri Davis-Moye, Director of Finance Carlos Hernandez, Director of Subsidized Housing & Applications (hired January 2017) Maria Maffei, Director of Redevelopment (hired January 2018) Desirée Ladd, Executive Assistant George Lalli, Director of Maintenance (changed position January 2018) David Perry, Director of Maintenance (hired January 2018)

Public Housing Operated by BHA – 924 total units

Housing for Seniors & Disabled # of Apartments

Walnut Street Apartments 4-24 Walnut Street 24

Ralph Sussman House 100 50 Pleasant Street

Arthur O’Shea House 100 61 Park Street

Theresa Morse Apartments 100 90 Longwood Ave

John W. Kickham Apartments 39 190 Harvard

Col. Floyd Apartments 60 32-40A Marion Street

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19-36 Foster Street Extension

Housing for Families

Walnut Street Apartments 76 22 High Street

High Street Veterans 186 1-33 New Terrace Road 176-224 High Street 186-218 Chestnut Street

Egmont Street Veterans 120 51-85 Egmont Street 338-348 St. Paul Street 209-221 Pleasant Street

Trustman Apartments 86 7-33 Egmont Street 144-156 Amory Street 337-347 St. Paul Street

Housing for People with Disabilities 33 Scattered Sites

Housing Vouchers Administered – 994 total vouchers

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers 955 vouchers Massachusetts Rental Vouchers 39 vouchers

Application Procedures Applications for all programs are available Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. at the main office, 90 Longwood Avenue, by calling (617) 277-1885 or online at www.brooklinehousing.org. Translation services are available through a telephone service and on the Housing Authority’s website.

Accomplishments & Activities

 BHA continued its successful operations with an average monthly vacancy rate of just 1.20%, a ‘clean’ financial audit, and strong scores on property inspections.

 The BHA welcomed new staff leadership. Maria Maffei was hired as Director of Redevelopment, David Perry as Director of Maintenance, and Carlos Hernandez as Director of Subsidized Housing & Applications.

Property Management & Development

 BHA launched a multi-year initiative to rehabilitate its existing properties by hiring its development team and holding well-attended meetings with residents. The BHA is very grateful for the predevelopment financing facility recommended by the Housing Advisory Board and approved by the Select Board.

 Successful operations continued at the BHA’s new construction property at 86 Dummer St. The property opened in 2015 and is the largest new construction of affordable housing in Brookline in more than 30 years.

 The BHA continued to provide subsidy and a variety of services for special needs and low-income people in partnership with Vinfen, the Brookline Community Mental Health Center, the Pine Street Inn, Winn Management, Hebrew Senior Life, and others.

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Capital Improvements CDBG funding received from the Town is vital to BHA’s ability to maintain its properties. The following projects were commenced or completed in 2017 at various BHA properties with the help of CDBG and other funding.

 New domestic hot water tanks  Security camera upgrades  Roof replacement  Storm drains replacement  Emergency generators replaced  Brick wall replaced  Community room renovations  Fire alarm upgrades  Design for Courtyard renovations

Self Sufficiency, Education & Health Programs

 For Seniors: Together with Springwell, the BHA provides independent living services and service coordination at all five of its senior properties and a community meal program at Morse Apartments.

 For Students: The BHA is a founding partner and Board Member of Steps to Success (STS) along with the Public Schools of Brookline (PSB). STS provides comprehensive support to PSB students from low income families. In addition, the BHA operates three Homework Centers at the Walnut Street, Trustman, and High Street Veterans properties.

 For Pre-Schoolers: The Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) and the Parent Child Home Program provide literacy programming to BHA parents and young children as well as weekly playgroups at the Walnut Street and Egmont Street properties.

 Job Training: BHA’s Next Steps program supports BHA adult residents with career development and job placement. The BHA also sponsors seminars in Financial Literacy and Tech Literacy.

 English Literacy: BHA’s ESOL Program served a record 101 English language learners in seven different class sections in 2017 and piloted a curriculum for immigrant parents.

 Free Tax Returns: The BHA offered free income tax preparation in continued partnership with the Allston Brighton Community Financial Management program, generating more $390,000 in tax savings for low income area residents.

 Food Assistance: BHA continued its partnerships with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) and the Brookline Food Pantry (BFP). The BFP operates a food pantry at the BHA’s Egmont Street property and serves 100+ people weekly. GBFB provides 30 pounds of food per month for income eligible residents senior citizens.

 Mental Health: With BHA funding and collaboration, the Brookline Community Mental Health Center provides a wide range of counseling services to BHA residents.

 Community Policing: The BHA teams with the Brookline Police Department in the “Walk and Talk” program. Select police officers are assigned to BHA developments. Crime rates at BHA developments are at or below town-wide averages.

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HUMAN SERVICES

Health Department Dr. Swannie Jett, Director

Our vision is an inclusive community that is healthy, safe, connected & equitable for all. The mission of Brookline Public Health and Human Services Department is to preserve, protect & promote the physical, mental, and environmental health of the Brookline Community. We collaborate with partners to reduce health inequities and respond to emerging public health challenges.

In May, 2017, we welcomed Dr. Swannie Jett as our new Health Commissioner. He previously served as the Health Office/Surgeon General of Seminole County, Florida from 2013 to 2016 and as Health Officer of Bullitt County Health Department in Kentucky from 2009 to 2013. Dr. Jett is passionate about improving communities and addressing issues involving the social determinants of health such as affordable housing, women’s health services, men’s Train Memorial Health Center health, tobacco, homelessness, gun violence, climate change, and health inequities.

Administration

During 2017, the Department began the first phase of the Public Health Accreditation process by evaluating its operations, developing a new vision, and mission. To increase health promotions in the community we redesigned our website and became active on social media platforms as a new method to educate and inform citizens. The Department leadership structure was maintained, providing for more access to the Health Commissioner, and allowing us to be more responsive to the community. In addition to the on-going biweekly management team meetings, periodic all-staff meetings with an educational component served to help build a sense of mission and community among staffers, and to enhance intra-departmental communication.

This year, the Department continued to be successful in leveraging non-Town resources for a broad range of projects. Over $130,000 was raised from a variety of sources including medical centers, foundations, federal and state government, etc. In addition, ten well-qualified graduate students were recruited for internships for a variety of public health projects. We maintained our outreach campaign to enroll uninsured Brookline residents in the State’s mandatory health insurance plan.

Also, we worked closely with other town departments on a variety of policies such a water bottle study, dangerous dog attacks, medical/recreational marijuana, polystyrene, tobacco, and climate change.

Scores of individuals and groups toured the Train Memorial Health Center, Brookline’s first Green Building, and the building was featured as part of the national Solar Tour by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. In addition, the Jennifer A. Lynch Garden of Remembrance, located adjacent to the Health Center, provided a focal point for a number of public events. We also hosted a delegation from our Sister City in Nicaragua which included the Public Health Administrator from Quezalguaque.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event

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Emergency Preparedness

The cross-departmental Emergency Management Team continued to meet to prepare for the possibility of an emergency. The Department took the lead on issues related to pandemic preparation and bioterrorism. Cheryl Anne Snyder, MS continued as our Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Emergency Preparedness staff work with a variety of local organizations to increase community preparedness and resiliency. For example, the Emergency Preparedness Buddies Program – developed in cooperation with Brookline Police and the Senior Center – works to help vulnerable elders prepare for emergencies.

Emergency preparedness and flu clinics The Division also coordinates more than 270 volunteers, including many health professionals, who serve as members of the Brookline Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), providing support for Department activities throughout the year, and prepared to assist in the event of an emergency. Brookline MRC volunteers attended a variety of emergency preparedness trainings in Brookline, and assisted with a variety of annual events, including the Boston Marathon and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. During the fall, more than 60 MRC volunteers assisted the Department to provide flu shots to the Brookline residents.

Environmental Health

This Division, led by Assistant Health Commissioner Patrick Maloney, MPAH, oversees many State-mandated programs including the licensing and inspections of food establishments, housing code inspections, swimming pools, solid waste handling practices, animal, insect, rodent control, and the abatement of general nuisances. Additional programs included asbestos removal, lead, hazardous waste, indoor air quality, and the enforcement of state and local tobacco control requirements.

The Division completed all mandated inspections as required by State regulation. The Division continued to post Food Service Establishment inspection reports on line. The Town’s Information Technology Department has been of great assistance on this project.

Mosquito control activities continued this summer as part of the Town Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The Division treated 3500 Town catch basins with a bacterial larvicide, to prevent the hatching of adult mosquitoes. We maintained our surveillance system for mosquitoes and produced information on ways to reduce risk for mosquito borne diseases, including Zika.

The Division helped enforce the Town’s policy on snow removal with the DPW, implementing new regulatory requirements and fines. Also, working with town departments, we continued two programs mercury and CFL/fluorescent light recycle. We also received support from the State Health Department to continue our safe sharps disposal program.

The Division responded to numerous of requests of information on indoor air quality, mold, lead and solid waste disposal. Also, the Division offered three rabies vaccination clinics in conjunction with the Newton Health Department. Our sealer of weights and measures tested all town weighing and measuring devices, taxi meters, and scanners to ensure accuracy.

Finally, the Division implemented the new Town by-Laws restricting the use of plastic bags in retail establishments and polystyrene in food service establishments, and the requirement to offer public water to patrons of sit down food establishments.

Child Health

Under the direction of Gloria Rudisch MD, MPH, the Division of Child Health continued to be the Department's liaison with School Health Services and the nursing and health education staff in the schools. There continues to

161 www.brooklinema.gov be a strong association with the Essential School Health Services grant, which has facilitated the transition to a full-time school nurse leader, provided for technology training, and for health program materials. In addition, the Division maintained a regular schedule of child immunization clinics staffed by public health nurses with physician back up. Over 300 youngsters were served.

Our child development staff monitored the growing number of group day care centers (31) and extended day programs (9). We provided technical assistance and training sessions for all day care directors and educational programs for children in day care. In conjunction with the Parks and Open Spaces division, we maintained a schedule to help control playground overuse at Brookline parks.

Community Health

Led by Lynne Karsten, MPH, this Division oversees community health initiatives including women’s health, community immunization, climate change, elder health programs, healthy eating, and physical fitness. The Division expanded its programming in physical fitness and physical activity, promoting the Brookline Passport to Health and Fitness, strengthening the Town’s Brookline On the Move brand, and receiving continued funding to promote wellness and prevent disease and disability in Brookline. In 2017, More than 150 Brookline residents participated in the second annual outdoor yoga class to celebrate International Day of Yoga.

The Women’s Health campaign supported by Brigham and Women’s Hospital involved organizing educational programs and screenings. We participated in the annual “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” to call attention to domestic violence. Also, with our partners at Beth Israel/Deaconess Medical Center, the Department promoted a series on healthy aging/health issues for seniors. We continued to work with town departments to train staff in the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). Currently, there are over 30 AEDs in town buildings in strategic locations, in addition to those in all emergency response vehicles. Employees in all town buildings and schools where AEDs are located now have received CPR/AED training. During National Public Health Week in April, the Department again sponsored a variety of well-attended events; programs including a talk on chemical-free cleaning products and makeup; current issues in TB, information about the health implications of fracked gas and a conversation for high school parents on student alcohol and drug use. The Division continued to cosponsor American Red Cross blood drives at the Main Library.

The Division continued work with the Select Board’s Committee on Climate Change and CAB (Climate Action Brookline) in their initiative to raise awareness among the Brookline community about reducing Brookline’s “carbon footprint.” The Division developed projects that show the link between public health and climate change in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. In the fall, Community Health played a key role in organizing “Car Free School Day,” designed to educate school age children about climate change. Lincoln School has now incorporated a bike parade as part of the celebration. Finally, we cosponsored several initiatives with the Brookline Food Pantry, continuing a “Fresh Produce Food Drive” in conjunction with the Brookline Farmers’ Market as a part of a national Food Day celebration. Numerous overflowing bins of fresh produce purchased by Brookline residents at the Brookline Farmers’ Market were delivered to Brookline’s two food pantries as part of this event.

Through state funding, Brookline continued monitoring compliance with the Town’s Tobacco Control By-Law and pursuing complaints concerning infractions of the law. In addition, we saw final implementation of smoke-free housing policies in all public housing properties in Brookline and maintained our five communities collaborative. Natalie Miller, MPH, is the coordinator for the program.

Public Health Nursing/Epidemiology Celebrating International Day of Yoga at Cypress Field

The Division of Public Health Nursing/Epidemiology oversaw the investigation and control of over 299 reports of communicable disease and over 94 human exposures to animals including bat exposures.

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The division continues to utilize MAVEN and MIIS (secure, web-based, surveillance programs) to receive reports, add information, track trends and collect data on communicable disease and immunization status.

Immunization clinics for under-insured children administered 536 required immunizations for school entry. The division also maintains and distributes lists of clinics that can provide medical treatment for these children.

Regularly scheduled blood pressure screenings provided 100 patient visits and the annual flu clinics provided more than 1000 flu vaccinations.

Also, the public health nurse responded to over 500 inquiries on topics such as travel health, immunizations, disease incidence/prevention including tick, mosquito borne diseases, and food- borne illness.

The public health nurse also assisted in securing a $32,500 grant from the Brookline Tuberculosis and Health Society and presented a history of tuberculosis in Brookline at the first Francis Parkman Denny lecture (supported by this grant).

Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Program for Youth

This Division, led by Mary Minott, LICSW, is a town/school partnership coordinating prevention and intervention services for Brookline youth and their families. Based on data from the Department’s Brookline Student Health Survey, the Division’s 2016-17 strategic action plan focused on the Department of Public Health Annual Rabies Vaccine Clinic at Town Hall prevalence of marijuana use and binge drinking among vulnerable populations. To this end, the Division received a Brookline Community Foundation grant for $25,000, and a $15,000 subcontract grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, as part of a four town collaborative.

This year, the Division conducted prevention services through B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network), B- CASA (Brookline Coalition Against Substance Abuse), and the Brookline High School Peer Leadership Program. B-PEN provided education and resources to parents through weekly PTO blasts, PTO presentations, the B-PEN website, and the Parent Resource Advocate. Topics included underage alcohol, marijuana and other substance abuse, healthy relationships/teen dating violence prevention, healthy media use, and teens and stress. This year, the division hosted a wellness summit with over 100 participants, and provided up to date information on raising healthy teens for parents and treatment resources on the BPEN website. The Peer Leadership program trained 45 high school students who provided substance abuse and teen dating violence prevention presentations to over 800 students and at 4 parent workshops.

The Division’s intervention services include substance Public Health Climate Change Week abuse assessment, treatment planning, counseling and

163 www.brooklinema.gov referrals, serving over 200 youth and their families this year. The Division also offers services through the Youth Diversion program in conjunction with the Brookline Police and courts.

Advisory Council on Public Health

A dedicated group of six unpaid volunteers continue to serve as members of the Advisory Committee on Public Health (ACPH). Meeting monthly, the Council provides the Health Commissioner with advice on budget, policy and Town Meeting issues, health needs assessments, and a range of operational issues.

At the close of 2017, the Select Board reappointed Dr. Anthony Schlaff, Chair and appointed Dr. Peter Moyer to the Council. They join Patricia Maher, Gretchen Stoddard, Cheryl Lefman, and Dr. Nalina Narain. We want to thank Dr. Milly Krakow for serving on the Council for 18 years.

Brookline Sister City Quezalguaque Mayor visiting Brookline Helath

Friends of Brookline Public Health

In 2017, the Friends of Brookline Public Health, a membership organization conceived to build a constituency for public health in Brookline, entered its eighteenth year. The goal of 150 individual members and six corporate members was achieved. A Board of Trustees of 15 persons, including four officers, was elected, and activities included climate week, Sister Cities, and a fundraiser. Dr. Larry Madoff and Cheryl Lefman serve as Co- Presidents.

The Friends also co-sponsored the 21st Annual Public Health Policy Forum entitled “Twenty Years of Advocacy for Health Care Reform: Health Care Reform: Navigating Uncharted Waters” in conjunction with the Brookline Center for Adult and Community Education and the Council on Aging. Moderated by former Governor Michael Dukakis, the forum attracted close to 200 people.

Twenty-first Annual Public Health Policy Forum moderated by former Governor Michael Dukakis

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Council on Aging Ruthann Dobek, Director

The Brookline Council on Aging is a resource for residents over 60. Our mission is providing social services that allow people to remain independent. We work with Town agencies and community service providers to enrich the quality of life for everyone. We also operate the Senior Center five days a week with special evening and weekend programs. http://www.brooklineseniorcenter.org

Services

 Geriatric case management, support groups  Fuel assistance  Home care: meal prep, errands, cleaning,  Advocacy: social security, SHINE shopping counseling, mental health, SNAP food  Income tax preparation, job search, stamps computer skills  Food pantry  Health: blood pressure, podiatry, hearing,  Fitness center flu clinic, reiki  Elder Resource Guide  Legal clinic  Medical equipment  Transportation: taxi, bus, van, TRIPPS,  Monthly News and Events publication iCare

Programs include: The Council collaborates with nonprofits, Town departments and local businesses for a variety of programs and services. Programs: books, art, movies, concerts, lectures, health screening.

Highlights

 Chinese New Year  Hidden Brookline: Underground Railroad  Silver Leaf Gospel Singers Stops  Dance Party USA  Boston Women’s Heritage lecture  Piatigorsky Foundation Concert  Immigrant Rights forum  Metropolitan Chorale  Out of the Attic: Maids of 83 Beals Street and  Stephen Collins’s “Comedy, Satire & Farce,” tour of JFK house “Whistler”  Election forum  Bruce Hambro’s “Life & Times of Frank  Identity Theft & Shredding Sinatra,” “Cole Porter & Irving Berlin”  Tour: Norfolk Courthouse  John Clark’s “Poets of Tin Pan Alley”  Preserving Your Photographs & Memorabilia  Brookline Open Studios  Boston’s Hidden Sacred Spaces  George Capaccio’s “Albert Einstein:  Virtual Reality Demonstration by Brookline Relatively Speaking” Interactive Group  Holiday Craft Fair  MBTA Senior Pass  Gallery 93 Art Shows  Tribute to Tolerance by Eve Soumerai  Easy Travel  The Reunion Project by Lora Brody  Elks BBQ & Holiday Dinner  This Chair Rocks by Ashton Applewhite  Friday Family Flicks  Adventures in Mindfulness  Ukulele Group  LGBT loss support group  Theater Club  Medical marijuana seminar

Vibrant Assistive Technology Program - The Mass Association for the Blind partners with us to host their VIBRANT program. It helps visually impaired and blind recipients access new technology. Users are assessed and matched with organizers to help them find useful tools like enlarging print, banking, transportation apps, shopping, reading and planning travel.

Home and Escort Linkage Program (HELP) - HELP celebrated its 30th anniversary as a homemaker service that finds trained affordable workers to assist seniors with meal preparation, errands, cleaning and companionship. 438 people were helped by 92 workers.

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Volunteers

 Barbara Kean was named volunteer of the year at the annual volunteer’s luncheon. She was cited for her work in reception, the Alzheimer’s Walk, TRIPPS, the VIBRANT program, and as a Center ambassador welcoming new participants.  Goddard House was named Community Partner for their collaboration with BCAN, Parties of the Century, and the Memory Café.  Patricia Burns coordinated 364 volunteers who fill 562 volunteer jobs. Volunteers lead seminars, coach ping pong, bridge, food service and reception. Attorneys staff our legal clinic. High school students help with shopping and shoveling.

Brookline Community Aging Network (BCAN) continues making Brookline a better Barbara Kean place to age gracefully. http://www.BrooklineCan.org  Theme of the September annual meeting: "The Power of Engagement." Judith Gonyea, professor and associate dean of social research at Boston University, stressed the importance of social engagement. Alice Bonner, secretary of elder affairs for Massachusetts, praised the group for making the Town a better place to live for all.  Education seminars  Parking for volunteers, street lighting and sidewalk repair  Age Friendly Cities continues on Brookline Interactive Group’s television network  TRIPPS was recognized for its community service educating seniors with alternative transportation options.

Budget Kerri Ann Tester, TRIPPS Program Manager with her Grandmother  The Town provides 70% of the operating budget  The Council, with help from its nonprofit: The Brookline Multi Service Senior Center  Corp, supplements its budget with federal, state and private grants, and donations from the Annual Benefit and other fundraising  Due to demands on its budget, the state lowered its funding to $9.70 per elder

Grants

 Community Development Block Grants support our taxi discounts  One family foundation grant underwrites the Drawing for Pleasure class, and another supports monthly birthday parties  Brookline Community Foundation’s spotlight grant supports, in part, the memory connections café that meets each month to help those with memory challenges. With Goddard House, we led a pilot memory café camp in August with music, haiku, exercise and arts. Memory café camp  TRIPPS was funded for a second year by a grant from the Mass Dept of Transportation  Our new grant is from ITNAmerica, a nonprofit transportation network. Working with our HELP program, iCare provides free rides to eye care appointments.

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Fundraising

 Thanks to board president Betsy Pollock who raised $12,000 dancing with Brookline Rotary’s Dancing with the Stars in 2016, we increased transportation choices. We now offer LYFT ride sharing even for those without Smartphones.  The van made 5,393 trips for 285 riders. The Hamilton Foundation ensures it runs five days a week and the Brookline Rotary defrays costs for gas and oil.  Nancy Daly was honored at the Annual Benefit for her advocacy of older adults during her political career. She served 12 years as a selectman, 8 Nancy Daly years on the Advisory Board, and under her leadership Brookline became the first Age Friendly town in New England.

Transition

Jamie Donchin, HELP counselor and Equipment Loan Fund manager, got married and is now known as Jamie Jensen

Retirement

Carol Malinowski, clinical social worker, retired in December

Dotty Bell, administrative assistant, also retired in December

Deaths

We lost Arlene Stern who established the Council on Aging as a professional agency and who with her late husband, Roger, was instrumental in creating our building.

We lost Vivian Freeman. Warm, gracious, kind and giving are some of the traits Vivian brought to our volunteer program. Vivian’s spirit lives on and she is missed by all.

Our success is due to the dedication of staff, volunteers and our board. We’re grateful to everyone who helps us ensure Brookline is a desirable place to live. We look forward to enriching our services and as always, we invite the community to get involved.

Age-Friendly City Committee

In December 2012, Brookline was accepted as a member of the World Health Organization’s network of “age friendly” cities and communities. Participating municipalities commit themselves on a multi-year basis to becoming more age friendly. Brookline was the ninth municipality in the United States and the first in New England to join the Network. The Brookline Age Friendly City initiative is collaboration among the Town of Brookline, the Brookline Council on Aging, and BrooklineCAN. Major topics addressed by the initiative are housing, transportation, information dissemination, community participation, employment and volunteering, health, library, parks and open space, property tax abatement for low-income seniors, public safety, services for senior veterans, and compliance with Americans with Disabilities requirements. Participating departments include Planning and Community Development, Department of Public Works (Transportation, Parks and Open Space, Highway), Council on Aging, Public Health, Public Libraries, Recreation, Assessor’s Office, Police, Fire, Veterans Services, and Diversity, Inclusion, & Human Relation.

The Age Friendly Cities Committee coordinates the initiative. The Committee's duties include refinement of the Town's action plan, coordination of implementation of the action plan, and assessment of projects. The committee keeps the Select Board informed about the progress of the initiative and makes recommendations to the Board on policy issues that arise. The committee also provides information to the WHO Global Network of

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Age-Friendly Cities and Communities on the town's plans and accomplishments.

The Committee works through subcommittees concerned with specific aspects of the initiative. The subcommittees include health, transportation, housing, library, social participation, and age-friendly TV. The Age-Friendly City Committee may form other subcommittees if they are needed. The Committee recruits members for the subcommittees who need not be members of the full Committee.

The Committee seeks cooperation of various town departments and boards and commissions with specific projects. The Committee informs town departments, boards and commissions, and the general public about the initiative's activities, and accomplishments. Age-Friendly television, a program broadcast by the Brookline Interactive Group is a major vehicle for informing the public about age-friendly services offered in Brookline. The Committee also encourages more effective communication among town departments on matters involving older residents. The committee is available to assist town departments and boards and commissions in communicating with residents on matters involving older residents.

Members:  Nancy Heller, Select Board Member, Co-Chair  Shirley Selhub  Ruthann Dobek, Council on Aging, Co-Chair  Matthew Weiss  Frank Caro, BrooklineCAN, Co-Chair  Roberta Winitzer  Saralynn Allaire  Henry Winkelman  Lloyd Gellineau

Veterans’ Services Bill McGroarty, Director

Massachusetts General Laws (MGL-115) mandates the Brookline Department of Veterans’ Services to assist Brookline veterans and/or their dependents with living and authorized medical expenses. The Brookline Department of Veterans’ Services administers emergency veteran’s benefits to ensure that qualified veterans and their dependents receive both the help they need and the respect they deserve. The Town of Brookline appropriates 100% of the monies needed to assist the veterans and/or their dependents. A monthly report is submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. Per Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 115, the state is required to then reimburse the Town of Brookline up to 75% of all approved emergency benefits.

The Department serves as a conduit in filing for all Veterans’ Affairs benefits for which a veteran/dependent may be entitled, as well as other federally-funded or state-funded benefits. Veterans’ benefit paperwork can often be confusing if not overwhelming; this office has extensive experience in case managing VA claims. We continue to utilize the VA expedited claims format for service connected disabled whenever possible to reduce their wait time for benefits by more than half. Residents are encouraged to stop by or call (617) 730-2112 if they have any questions or concerns pertaining to state and federal veterans’ benefits. We are proud and honored this year to have assisted many Brookline veterans in obtaining the VA pensions and VA Healthcare they were entitled to, and in many cases desperately needed. Brookline veterans and qualified dependents have received over $80,000 this year in new VA pensions.

Our office continues to working with the Boston VA Medical center as they try to improve health care services. Networking with the VA staff we are now able to get our veterans into the medical services within two or three weeks rather than the same number of months. For Brookline veterans who find themselves without health insurance, VA Healthcare is an essential lifeline. VA Healthcare provides thousands of dollars in savings to our veterans, which both keeps people in their homes and contributes to the economy of our Town. We assisted over 50 veteran registering for VA health care or obtaining VA medical treatments and or prescriptions

The Office of Veterans’ Services manages a Veterans’ Work Program to employ veterans with the Town temporarily, providing them financial assistance as they continue their education or seek their first job after leaving the service, graduating college or starting a new career. The Office of Veterans’ Services also provides additional

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2017 Annual Report job services to help veterans to secure gainful employment in their chosen career path. The internship program also provides a well-trained and motivated temporary work force to assist Town departments.

The wars have taken toll on many of our servicemen and servicewomen. Veterans returning from war are in need of many assistance programs, including rehabilitation for hidden injuries such as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We are working with the VA Medical Center to assure that returning veterans are apprised of all available resources and to strongly advocate to ensuring they receive all necessary medical care. One example, we were able to assist a veteran living in Brookline, who due to his PTSD was arrested, lost his license and his job becoming homeless. We assisted the veteran in obtaining VA treatment and pension and provided MGL115 benefits during the process. He now is being treated for his PTSD, is in receipt of a VA disability pension, his record has been expunged; license restored and he used his VA loan guarantee to obtain a house.

This year we honored the brave men from Brookline who as slave fought for our freedom during the American Revolution. Working with the Hidden Brookline Committee a flag was raised for them during an emotional ceremony at the High School. My office assisted the Horwitz family in lying to rest with full military honors, fallen Brookline WWII war hero 2nd Lt. Richard M. Horwitz. He returned home after being missing in action for 72 years. We also worked with Holyhood Cemetery and VFW Post 864 to mark the grave of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Grace USN.

Almost 5,000 veterans’ graves are decorated annually for Memorial Day. Our office also coordinates the Town’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day Observances. This Memorial day we honored JFK for his WWII service on his 100th birthday anniversary. We also dedicated an Honor Square to fallen WWII hero 2LT Walter F. Brookings.

The Department of Veterans’ Services continues to assist the local American Legion and VFW post in maintaining and revitalizing the veterans’ meeting hall building. The veterans’ post hall is an important resource to our veterans and an asset that benefits the entire community. Bill also works as the Emergency Management Planning Coordinator.

The Veterans’ Office wish to thank outgoing Head Clerk Michele Bilodeau for her dedication to our veterans and to welcome incoming Head Clerk Claudia Leon to the veterans’ community.

Please visit our website, www.townofbrooklinemass.com/Veterans

Fall Brookline WWII War Hero’s Honored in 2017

2LT Walter F. Brookings 2nd Lt. Richard M. Horwitz

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Brookline Commission on Disability Saralynn Allaire, Chair

The Commission was at full membership with active participation of Myra Berloff, Select Board member Ben Franco, Robert Heist, Ann Kamensky, Joan Mahon, Jim Miczek, Elaine Ober, Henry Winkelman, and Chairperson Saralynn Allaire. The Commission held 11 regular monthly meetings and formed ad hoc subcommittees as needed for additional work. Agendas and minutes were posted on the Town website for all meetings within time limits.

In January, the Commission recognized that although Town meeting had approved its formation in 1986, it was not established in Town By-laws. Commission members approved submission of an article creating a By-law on the Commission to spring Town Meeting. After a subcommittee created a draft, the full Commission approved and submitted an article requesting creation of a BCOD By-law. The article was revised following review by various Town committees. Members participated in review committee meetings, as well as the spring Town Meeting where the final version was accepted.

The Commission continued to address handicapped parking (HP) issues. An additional HP space with blocked passenger side access identified in the 2016 survey of Beacon St. by Boston University occupational therapy students was re-located. The Commission received a complaint about HP spaces in Coolidge Corner area public lots that did not meet state codes. Survey of the lots indicated this applied to the Centre St and Webster St. lots. HP spaces in the Centre St. lot were updated after working with DPW throughout the year. A plan formed for the Webster St. lot will be addressed in 2018. Students from Boston University surveyed HP spaces on Harvard St. and in the Washington Square area in Fall, 2017. Review of results found one space on Washington St. that should be re-located.

Myra Berloff received notification from Mass. Office on Disability that a request by two residents at 100 Centre St. for an audible pedestrian signal at the intersection of Centre and Williams Sts. had not been addressed. The Commission worked with DPW throughout the year on approval of and plans for installation of the audible signal. Joan Mahon initiated action on use of captioning devices at the Coolidge Corner Theater. An ad hoc subcommittee was formed; members worked with theater staff to facilitate the use of the equipment already owned, but not in use. Availability of the devices was then publicized. The Commission assisted the Town ADA Coordinator in various activities, including updating the Town’s ADA grievance procedure and in hearing and addressing complaints. Commission members have participated in ADA Town self-evaluation meetings conducted by the Coordinator throughout the year.

On April 25, the Commission hosted a regional meeting conducted by the Mass. Office on Disability for commissions on disability. The meeting was held in Town Hall, and 40 commissioners and others from a dozen communities attended. Select Board member Ben Franco represented the Town and welcomed attendees. To promote awareness of the Commission and disability issues within Brookline, the Commission participated in Brookline Day and distributed a jar gripper with the Commission’s name on it. Ann Kamensky represented the Commission at an INSPO/EXPO event held to support Town advocacy groups.

Use of HP fine funds by local commissions on disability is authorized by state regulation, however the status of use of local funds by BCOD was unclear. The Commission worked to clarify its use of these funds and subsequently used funds to pay for deaf interpreters and purchase of the jar grippers and alternative listening devices. A subcommittee was established to draft a mission statement for the Commission. The draft was reviewed, edited and approved by the Commission. It is posted on the Commission Town webpage. Discussion on possible long-term (~5 year) goals was initiated. The Commission reviewed and provided advice on four applications for variances from MA CMR 521 access codes. The advice was submitted to the Mass. Architectural Access Board.

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Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations Dr. Lloyd Gellineau, Director

The Office Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations continued its promotion of events and activities that aid the Brookline community to become more culturally competent and to be informed of the achievement s and the barriers faced by our protected classes. In the fall the Office sponsored and helped organized the Meet a Muslim event. The program allowed participants to ask candid questions to the speaker regarding the Muslim faith. The Office hosted and organized the Bystander Intervention Workshop. The workshop provided instruction to participants on how to intervene when witnessing discriminatory behavior in the community. The Office sponsored and organized a program for understanding Gender Identity and Gender Expression for Town employees last summer. In the spring, in conjunction with Hidden Brookline and the Veteran’s Office, it created a ceremony to honor Adam, Peter and Prince- three enslaved individuals that fought in the American Revolution. The Office provided logistical and consultation to the John Wilson Committee as the Committee embarked to honor the African- American artist by purchasing a sculpture made by the artist that will be place in Town Hall. The sculpture is a version of MLK similar to the one that is in the US Capitol rotunda. In April, in conjunction with the Police Department and Pine Manor College, the Office offered the community a panel discussion that featured area police chiefs discussing community relations and programing in their communities.

In conjunction with the MLK Committee, the office provided staffing and logistical support for MLK day events. The Office continues its logistical support for the Lunar New Year Event, Women Who Inspire Us program, the Women’s Commission’s Dress for Success program and the Annual Kid’s Clothing Drive. The office also continued its Salary Negotiations Workshops for Women and its collaboration with the Domestic Violence Roundtable and Jennifer A Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence to produce the Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event. It continued its collaborations with other Town Departments in coordinating the Brookline Together Initiative and its presence at Brookline Day. It provided staffing and sponsorship for two additional showings of the Soul Witness Project at the Coolidge Corner theater. Partnering with the Senior Center, the Office presented a one- person performance of Thurgood Marshall at the Senior Center. The Office continued to update the Thrive Guide- the online information and resource guide for Women and Girls Thriving initiative. Office also provided representation and consultation to Brookline Sister City initiative. The Office provided consultation and logistical support to the Annual Youth Awards, and the Annual Public Health Forum.

The Office secured additional Assisted Listening Devices for public use at public meetings. In addition, it worked with DPW to secure two additional disability parking spaces in Coolidge Corner. The Office’s ADA Coordinator has conducted ADA assessments of Town Departments and the Coordinator has started working on Department Transition Plans. The Office orchestrated a survey by IHCD to assess pedestrian accessibility compliance on two main pedestrian thruways in August. The report was shared with DPW in December for the Complete Streets Project. Co-sponsored a training on Community Engagement with the Community Planning and Development Department.

The Office was successful in becoming a member of the Government Alliance for Racial Equity (GARE) and has been participating in webinars, and cross consultations with cities/towns across the United States that are doing racial equity work. The Office, in conjunction with the Town Administrators Office, held a GARE training program for Senior Management. It has met with community groups to begin the formulation of work groups that will be task with reviewing Town functions, and policies for barriers as they relate to racial equity. The Office created and implemented a Civic engagement survey to assess barriers to civic engagement within Brookline. The Office continued to collaborate with the League of Women Voters to increase citizen participation in Town government.

The Office processed three complaints regarding racial or cultural discrimination. Two of the complaints involved Town employees and one involved a Town Business. The Office processed ten ADA complaints this year.

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Brookline Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations

Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations

The Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations (CDICR) works to support a welcoming environment by advancing, promoting and advocating for the human and civil rights of all persons who come in contact with the Town of Brookline, including residents, visitors, persons passing through the Town, employers, employees, and job applicants through education, awareness, outreach and advocacy.

In 2017 the following commissioners served on the CDICR: Sandy Batchelder, Malcolm Cawthorne, Wesley Chin, Alex Coleman, Ernest Frey, Manny Howard, Sean Jaynes, Yvette Johnson, Bob Lepson, Tony Naro, Kelly Race, Enid Shapiro, Dwaign Tyndal, Kea van der Ziel, and Ginny Vaz.

The liaisons to the CDICR are: Bernard Greene – Select Board, Michael Gropman – Police Department, Lloyd Gellineau – Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations, Suzanne Federspiel – School Committee, Vishni Samaraweera – Brookline High School.

The CDICR accomplishes most of its work through its four committees:

 Outreach and Education  Employment Diversity  Fair Housing  Complaint Screening

The Outreach and Education committee organized two well-attended community outreach events: The Pre-Spring Fling in February at the Pierce School and Food Truck Friday in June at the Driscoll School. The committee also developed a “Welcome” poster for distribution to all businesses, organizations and public buildings in Brookline.

The Employment Diversity Committee gained the approval of the Select Board for the first Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for the Town.

The Fair Housing committee continues to refine and deliver fair housing training. The committee has expanded the scope of its efforts to include affordable housing issues.

A Sanctuary City working group was established in response to the new federal administration’s actions against immigrants. The working group proposed the most protective policies in the Commonwealth regarding

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2017 Annual Report undocumented immigrants. They developed the Police Department policies on how to respond to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainers and ICE raids. In addition, the group created the Town-wide policy regarding inquiries into anyone’s citizen or immigration status.

A resolution was written and approved applauding the bravery of Dr. Asa Sevelius, principal of Heath School, and pledging support for all transgender persons in the community.

Sadly, in 2017 the commission lost two key members of its community. Resolutions were written and approved recognizing the contributions of Frank Farlow and Enid Shapiro to the diversity efforts in the Town of Brookline.

Commissioners assisted the Police Department in developing a social media strategy to achieve a wider outreach in the community.

The CDICR Supported Brookline’s membership in the Government Alliance on Race & Equity.

This year we added the first student liaison from Brookline High School to the CDICR.

In September, the commission organized the “Meet a Muslim” event at Lincoln School and later in the month participated in Brookline Day, distributing information on the activities of the commission and answering questions from the public.

In the fall, the commission held public hearings on four Warrant Articles relating to diversity and inclusion. At Town Meeting, Commissioners gave presentations in support of all four Warrant Articles.

Brookline Commission for the Arts

The Brookline Commission for the Arts (BCA) serves as the Local Cultural Council for Brookline. The BCA is responsible for the stewardship and disbursement of a yearly financial allocation from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) to fund local artists and arts and cultural organizations serving the Brookline community. The BCA also oversees the Town Hall Walls exhibition series, the Poet Laureate program, the annual Cultural Contributor Award, Celebrate Music Series, collaborates on Arts Brookline: A Season of Arts, serves as an approval board for public art requests for the Town, and as an advisory board to the Select Board on arts-related projects.

Grant-making Activities 28 individuals or organizations applied for LCC grants in October 2017. Total amount applied for: $41,825.

BCA allocation from the MCC: $10,900 – level with 2016.

Total amount granted to 16 applicants was: $10,850 plus an inclusion of $495 in unencumbered funds and the permitted 5% ($545) for printing and other program costs.

MCC grants were awarded to the following individuals/organizations in December 2017 for 2018 projects: Boston Artists Ensemble; Brookline Arts Center; Brookline Interactive Group; Coolidge Corner Community Chorus; Commonwealth Shakespeare Co; Gateway Arts; Genki Spark; John Root; Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild; New Repertory Theatre; Non-Event; Puppet Showplace Theater; Robert Guillemin; Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston; Studios Without Walls; Unbound Visual Arts.

The Town Hall Walls program continued to thrive under the direction of three commissioners; Chris Santos, Courtney McGlynn, and Ilana Lescohier. The following local artists exhibited in 2017:

Ruth Ginsberg-Place; Joseph Perkell; Mark Jacobson; Mary Scott Dunn; Amy E Browning; Gillian Jackson; Mori Insinger; Courtney McGlynn; Doron Putka; Aurelie Galois; Gulnara Niaz; Jim Solomon; Gateway Arts; Students of Lincoln School; Emma Tavolieri; Karla Weathers; Michelle Yu.

A Grant reception was hosted in May 2017 by the BCA at the Main Library to feature 2017 grantees who briefly presented their projects. The 4th annual Cultural Contributor Award was presented to Chobee Hoy, a longtime

173 www.brooklinema.gov supporter of the arts in Brookline. A Grant workshop was hosted by the Commission in September for artists and organizations. This was free and publicized online, via email, and in the Brookline Tab.

Brookline Poet Laureate Zvi A Sesling, Brookline’s 3rd poet laureate, was appointed in April 2017. The following is a small selection of activities during his first year: host for several community poetry events at Brookline Libraries; reading at community events at Brookline Booksmith, Teen Center, Brookline Senior Center; and donation of more than 100 of his poetry books to BHS. Mr. Sesling was published in several magazines as Brookline’s poet laureate.

Personnel Changes Amy Emmert was appointed Chair and Betsy Frauenthal continued as Treasurer. New commissioners: Elmer Sprague, Sydney Nolan, Ohad Cohen, Nancy Van Zant. Retirements: Evelyn Cohen, Rina Jacobson.

Arts Brookline: A Season of Arts 2017 saw the 4th annual collaboration of the commission with Arts Brookline: A Season of Arts, to showcase the many talents and programs of the Brookline arts community, present the Celebrate Music Series, and support Brookline’s 2nd Porchfest in June.

Brookline Commission for Women

The Brookline Commission for Women (BCW) strives to support women in all aspects of their lives and to promote the cultural, racial, and economic diversity of Brookline. We accomplish our mission by making ourselves a visible resource for women in the community; collecting and disseminating information on women’s issues; cooperating with other town agencies, other women's commissions and service organizations for addressing women's issues; raising funds in support of our mission; offering programming consistent with our mission; and bringing women in Brookline together.

In February 2017, the BCW held its 8th Annual Children’s Clothing Drive. Hundreds of pieces of clothing and toys were collected during this two-day drive. Clothing was distributed to local families as well as to Cradles to Crayons and to Newborn Necessities, an outreach program at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In March 2017, the BCW held its 25th annual essay contest among 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Each year, students are asked to write about a “Woman Who Inspires Me.” The essay contest winners and the special woman in their lives are invited to a reception to honor these exceptional women who have impacted so many young people. Also as part of this event, the BCW honors one woman from the community who has made a remarkable impact on the Town and people who live here. The 2017 Brookline Woman of the Year was Misti Jaynes for her critical work for the Women and Girls Thriving Initiative to empower women and girls in Brookline. This event is held each March in celebration of National Women’s History Month.

In December 2017, the BCW held its 13th Annual Dress for Success Clothing Drive. The Dress for Success program is a not-for-profit organization that offers services to underprivileged women entering the workforce. Each client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a week’s worth of separates when she gets the job. Thousands of pieces of clothing, gloves, scarves, shoes, accessories, and winter coats were collected during this two-day drive for the Dress for Success program, as well as women in need in Brookline.

Looking forward into 2018, the BCW will further its work to support and promote women in Brookline. The BCW will continue to work with our local partners throughout the Town to identify and address the needs of women in Brookline. We look forward to celebrating our 26th Annual Women Who Inspire Us Event in March 2018. We continue to use social media to reach women in the community and share important news related to women, thereby making us more accessible and more informative to our community. New and ongoing initiatives have been added to our agenda which include forums on child care options in Brookline, partnering with the Brookline Health Department for a program during National Public Health Week in April, running our annual women and children’s clothing drives, holding forums for women on important topics such as child care options, women’s health and money management, and working to address hunger and food insecurity in Brookline.

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Information Technology Department Kevin Stokes, Chief Information Officer

Information Technology (IT) plays a key role in Brookline’s ability to educate its children, provide employees with the necessary resources to operate more efficiently, respond to emergencies, and efficiently deliver services to the public. Investments in Information Technology and Services provide educators and students with the tools to innovate, explore, create and collaborate continually in new ways.

The mission of the Information Technology Department is to promote and enable the use of Technology as a means to enhance the delivery of Town and School services to the community. The department is led by a Chief Information Officer (CIO) who serves in this capacity for both the Town and School departments. Overall department responsibilities include Town-wide IT leadership and vision along with management of a central Information Technology Organization. The central IT department is responsible for the integration of all activities and resources designated as:

1. Enterprise Systems operation, data processing ne and integration for key administrative functions to perform; 2. Data and Telecommunications networks required to ensure connectivity and mission critical functionality for all key Town and School locations; 3. Protection of the Town’s computer data and information assets and resources; 4. Identification of opportunities in the implementation and support of new and existing technologies; 5. Support services necessary to ensure maximum use, user comfort and integration of key technology platforms.

The collective Information Technology Department manages the entire suite of Town & School Enterprise Applications, network connectivity to 43 locations and facilitates the introduction of new technology to improve process, efficiencies and public access to information.

The department consists of three sub-groups to best serve the needs of the organization. The applications group, working together with our network and infrastructure group and the help desk group, supports 18 enterprise applications, 13 multi-department applications, 22 departmental applications, and 15 infrastructure applications, out of which 11 applications are now cloud based.

We continue to apply best practices in managing application life cycles, keep all major enterprise and cross- departmental applications up to date for security and for feature enhancements, and fine tune preventative measures to maximize uptime. In addition, we closely monitor application performance and perfect change management practice.

As in all previous years, the technology mix will continue to shift as products change and new vendors are introduced into the enterprise. While a continued migration to cloud based services is expected, support roles and workload shifting enable the department to continue to implement new applications, along with new functionalities to existing systems.

For fiscal year 2018 The IT department is pleased to reflect on the following accomplishments:

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Enterprise Permitting System Rollout

With all 10 departments now migrated over to the Town’s new platform, work will continue to integrate new functionality and workflows. Throughout calendar year 2017, the IT department held 65 key user trainings while developing over a 100 workflows for the 155 permits (and subtypes) that currently exist. Recently, full integration with existing GIS and assessor’s data repositories and connection to the existing payment engine will now allow for seamless interaction including information lookup, verification, submittal, approval and payment. The expectation is for shorter approval times for transactions with better coordination between departments.

School Technology Consolidations

With the previous year migration of the school system to the Google email platform behind us, the IT department was able to focus on improving management and integration of existing Town & School applications in order to provide additional capability and functionality for the organization.

All Town and School users are now on a consolidated email filtering and archiving platform engine which will allow for enterprise backup and retention of email along with enhanced safeguards to better protect against outside threats.

In addition, multiple school-based applications were synchronized in order to streamline account creation, management and removal. This will allow for better integration and data protection. User will benefit from having less account credentials to manage and the IT department will be able to better serve the user community.

The introduction of a user self-service portal will enable staff to reset account credentials via a secure service. This service will provide automated capability on a 7x24 basis with access from any location. The capability will enable significant reductions in staff time around resetting account credentials and bypassing the turnaround time for IT intervention.

Data Center Improvements

With assistance from the Building department and the CIP, The Town’s primary data center was upgraded with redundant power and cooling capacity. The data center plays an essential role providing consistent and reliable access to the information and communications necessary to run the enterprise computing operations.

The investment in upgraded data storage infrastructure provides a 5x improvement over the previous generation of equipment. In addition, these significant improvements will be realized in data backup and retention windows which have been significantly decreased

As the Town continues to invest in the technology, the opportunity to provide additional services, create efficiencies and improve employee collaboration will increase in unison. The Information Technology Department is positioned well to continue to enable all the promise that technology offers and looks forward to the challenge.

Finance Department Jeana Franconi, Finance Director

Overview

The Finance Department is comprised of the Assessing, Comptroller, Purchasing, and Treasury functions.

TREASURY DIVISION

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The Treasurer is pleased to submit highlights for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 below. For a full review of the Town’s finances, please refer to the Report on Examination of Basic Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2017. Cash Management

This division is responsible for the collection and maintenance of all revenues from all sources, as well as the management and safeguarding of all funds, the administration of all debt, and the proper disbursement of all funds.

Town Cash & Investments 155,154,302 Library Cash & Investments 5,418,086 Retirement Cash & Investments 273,789,922 Total Cash & Investments 434,362,310

General Fund Investment Income earned for the year was $361,020.

Bank Service and Credit Card Processing Fees - Through compensating balance agreements, we continue to minimize bank service costs. The division also takes on the financial burden of credit card processing charges that are not covered by convenience fees. Costs for both categories totaled $478,583.

We anticipate credit card processing fees to decrease significantly next fiscal year as the Select Board expanded charging convenience fees to motor vehicle excise and refuse bills; Town Clerk documents; and all licenses and permit fees. Parking meters also include a convenience fee of $0.30 per transaction.

Debt - As of June 30, 2017 the Town had debt obligations of $106.2 million in principle and $32.3 million in interest payments. During 2017, the Town issued $36.9 million of new general obligation bonds for the Devotion School ($33 million), Wastewater System Improvements ($1 million), Fire truck ($800,000), Corey Hill Playground ($700,000), Golf Course Driving Range ($500,000), Building Envelope/Fenestration Repairs ($380,000), Fire Maintenance Facility Remodeling ($300,000), and the Carton St. Footbridge ($245,000). The Town retained its Aaa bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service and was able to attain a true interest cost of 3.09%.

Collections

Collections is responsible for the billing, collection, recording, and reconciliation of annual Real Estate Property Taxes ($200.9 million), Personal Property Taxes ($3.1 million), Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes ($6.2 million), Water & Sewer Utility Fees ($29.0 million) and Refuse Collection and Disposal Fees ($2.7 million).

Bill payers have the option to pay online, at Town Hall, via mail, or use the drop box located in front of Town Hall.

Credit card transactions are assessed a convenience fee of 2.95% or $1.00 minimum. Electronic check payments are charged a convenience fee of $0.40. The Town does not receive any revenue from convenience fees. These fees are assessed by a third party processor for the secure handing and processing of payments.

Property Taxes - Uncollected real and personal property taxes for FY2017 as of June 30, 2017 were $1.8 million, representing a 99.1% collection rate.

A new taxation fund to aid the elderly and disabled in paying their taxes has been created. Please look for more information with the first quarter FY2019 tax bill.

As of July 1, 2018, the interest rate charged to seniors in the Town’s Deferred Real Estate Tax Program will be 2.33%. This is a decrease from the 5% currently charged. Going forward, the interest rate will change annually dependent upon the calculation of the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note annual average.

Municipal Lien Certificates - An important responsibility of this Office is the timely and accurate issuance of municipal lien certificates (MLC’s). This document is required before buyers and sellers of property can finalize any agreements for the transference of any real property. Lawyers and mortgage lending institutions depend upon

177 www.brooklinema.gov this service. We issued approximately 1,400 MLC’s during FY2017. General Law requires that these documents be completed within ten working days of receipt.

Motor Vehicle Excise - We continued to participate in the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s license renewal and registration renewal marking program. The failure to be able to renew these two important permits has proven to be a very effective collection stimulus. Uncollected excise tax at the end of the year was $385,615. We continued to collect over 93% of approximately 33,000 bills issued.

Payroll

This division is responsible for the oversight of all payroll activities, including accurate and timely payments to all Town and School employees, along with the related employee and employer deductions, taxes, wage reporting, and collective bargaining compliance issues.

Summary

Treasury takes pride in providing a high level of quality service to all of its constituents. It is with much appreciation that the Treasurer acknowledges the dedicated staff tasked with the collection of taxes and the reconciling of all receipts and disbursements for the Town.

COMPTROLLER’S DIVISION

The Comptroller's Office is responsible for the timely and accurate processing of vendor payments, cash receipts and general ledger transactions, and numerous federal and state reporting functions, including the Commonwealth’s Schedule A and free Cash certification. In addition, the Comptroller serves on the Brookline Contributory Retirement Board.

Accounts Payable personnel, in conjunction with input from a variety of Town Departments, continued to service nearly 5,000 active vendors, processing approximately 40,000 invoices during the calendar year.

The Accounts Payable personnel routinely audits all invoices before the payments are processed and then matches up the resulting checks with their supporting documents for archiving in-house. In addition, the accounts payable team has spent considerable time and effort training departmental users throughout the School and Town in the appropriate use of the accounts payable system.

Financial Reporting The Comptroller’s staff worked closely with the auditors to ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures and the promulgations of the Government Accounting Standards Board in the daily financial activities of the various Town departments and in the preparation of the Town’s annual financial statements.

Personnel, Schools, DPW, Water & Sewer, Building, Fire and Police Departments are utilizing the General Billing module.

The Comptroller’s staff continues to provide training and support for the departmental users in General Ledger queries and reports and Accounts Payable, General Billing and Cash Receipts input and processing and reporting of departmental financial data via in customized Crystal Reports developed in the Comptroller’s Office. Over 200 users in the Town and School offices have been trained in the Town’s MUNIS Financial system and basic Crystal Report running.

Closing The Comptroller and his staff worked closely with other key departments to enhance internal controls and financial processing and reporting with the Town. The Comptroller gratefully acknowledges the fine efforts of his staff, in conjunction with the efforts of other Town Departments, which have contributed to another successful year.

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ASSESSOR’S DIVISION

Board of Assessors L-R: Mark Mazur, Gary McCabe and Harold Peterson

The mission of the Board of Assessors is to assess all property in the Town of Brookline in a fair and equitable manner and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our purpose is to promote the fair and equal treatment of all taxpayers in the Town of Brookline in the administration of the property tax, motor vehicle excise tax and related exemptions; to assess all property at its full and fair cash value as of January 1 of each year and to employ valuation methods and techniques appropriate for each class of property and to maintain public records necessary to administer the taxes of the Town of Brookline and to objectively review the petitions and concerns of taxpayers. The Assessors, when necessary, will defend value appeals brought before the state Appellate Tax Board.

Accomplishments:

 The Assessors completed an interim year (non-certification) adjustment to all assessed values for fiscal year 2018, which resulted in a town-wide increase in the total taxable value of 7.7% to $23.3 billion, now the 4th highest assessed value in the commonwealth (see table below for value by property class).  The Assessors provided assistance to a special committee established by the Select Board to review a 2016 Special Town Meeting warrant article to study the tax relief programs available to Brookline senior taxpayers, including the modification or expansion of existing programs and the exploration of new programs. The result of the special committee’s work was the authorization of three warrant articles before the 2017 Special Town Meeting that would make the following changes available to the town: a. Lower the current 5% interest rate on deferred property taxes to a rate tied to the one-year average of 10-year US Treasury constant maturity rate. b. Petition the General Court to modify the existing statutory language of clause 41A of section 5, of Chapter 59 (tax deferral), to increase the income limit of eligible taxpayers, in order to open the deferral program to more participants. c. To establish a taxation aid committee to oversee a special fund to aid qualified elderly and disabled taxpayers using funds donated through the tax bill process as a special, additional contribution. We expect these programs to be implemented in fiscal year 2019.

2018 Objectives

 The Assessors will conduct a town-wide revaluation of all property for fiscal year 2019; the first state certification of values in a new five-year audit cycle. Due to recent changes in state law (Chapter 40, section 56) the certification of assessed values by the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue now occurs every five years, instead of the previous three-year cycle. The town-wide revaluation will include a recalibration of all valuation models; market sales, replacement cost and income capitalization. The Assessors will continue to use the existing computer-assisted mass-appraisal system (CAMA) licensed by the town and rely on the town’s comprehensive property database and GIS mapping programs.

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 Continue to develop a program for on-line filing of certain assessment forms, including personal property tax returns (Form-of-List), Form 3ABC – Return of Property Held for Charitable Purposes, and commercial property income & expense statements, requested under section 38D of Chapter 59.  The assessors will continue to be diligent in the discovery of taxable property and allowable levy growth due to new construction for fiscal year 2019 and beyond.

The table below contains the FY2017 and FY2018 total assessed values by major class and year over year percent change.

Property Class FY17 Valuation FY18 Valuation ∆ Residential 19,477,019,400 20,984,513,500 7.7% Commercial 1,942,174,300 2,101,745,700 8.2% Industrial 14,618,500 16,169,600 10.6% Personal Property 230,816,841 232,598,992 0.8% Total Taxable Property 21,664,629,041 23,335,027,792 7.7% Tax Exempt 2,134,474,200 2,298,721,300 7.7%

PURCHASING DIVISION

The Purchasing Division is responsible for the procurement of all goods & services for all Town and School Departments. The Division’s role is to ensure that all Departments are getting the best value, by using the appropriate process: RFPs, bids, quotes, and good business practice. In addition, established state and cooperative contracts are also used. The procurement process complies with applicable laws, such as M.G.L. Ch. 30B, 30 39M, and 149, which were enacted by the State and adopted by the Town in 1990 and updated in 2016.

Purchasing also manages all contracts and agreements resulting from procurements that have been conducted for Town and School Departments. General Services is part of the Division, providing printing and mail support for Town and School departments.

Personnel

The Division staff consists of: Chief Procurement Officer David Geanakakis, Procurement Officer Richard Saville, Buyer Elizabeth McDonald, and Senior Office Assistant Eric Miller. General Services staff are: Supervisor of Mailing & Printing Timothy Sullivan and Mail Clerk Morgan Laing-Buckland. In September, Arlyn Zuniga departed for a position with the Town of Milton, and we would like to thank her for his contributions to the Town and Schools.

David appreciates that all division staff offer a consistent high level of service and continue to provide informed and accurate service to Town and School Departments, on a daily basis over the past year.

Purchasing Activity

During the past year, the Purchasing Division issued approximately 10,000 purchase orders and conducted nearly 75 public procurements, for the various departments. Procurements are done using the appropriate open and competitive process. With the assistance of the requesting department, Division staff develop specifications, investigate and seek out potential vendors, evaluate & award contracts, and monitor vendor performance.

Various contracts for goods and services are managed by the Division staff and used by all Town and School departments. Establishing good working relationships with vendors providing goods and services is also an important task. Examples are: office supplies, copiers, information technology, furniture, school lunches, telecom, furniture, consultants and insurance. Significant items from the past year were:

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 Town Department Bids and RFPs: o Master Lease Purchase Financing for Public Works equipment, Salt (Newton Cooperative bid) for DPW, HVAC, 2 for Energy Management, Burner Boiler, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Construction Testing Devotion, Financial Peer Review, Legal Services for Real Property Acquisition, Lease of 29 Avon Street, Design of Renovation of Brookline Reservoir, Acquisition of Fire Truck, Parking Violations Process and Collection Services, Annual Fire Sprinkler/Alarm/Extinguisher Service, Exit & Emergency Light Testing, Strategic Asset Plan and Major Parcel Study  Continued to prepare issue, award and manage cooperative bid and contract for heating oil, gasoline and diesel for 11 regional Cities and Towns. Obtained fixed low prices for FY18.  Various Town and School contracts were rebid or renewed with ongoing improvement of products and services  Continue to manage the annual computer leasing process, with the assistance of the Information Technology Department. Ongoing program has standardized models with a single vendor, consistent annual payment & low interest rate, low prices, efficient ordering process & faster deployment.  Continued to expand purchases from other cooperative contracts, such as Mass. State Contracts, Mass. Higher Education Consortium and Metropolitan Area Planning Council, as appropriate  Purchased additional fuel efficient, hybrid and 4 cylinder, vehicles such as: Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Ford Transit, for various Town and School Departments.

Support to the School Department

Procurement Officer Richard Saville and Senior Office Assistant Eric Miller are the Division’s primary contacts for the School Department. They dedicate most of their time to support School Department purchases and projects, but all staff support School purchases. Significant items from the past year were: • School Department Bids, RFPs and renewals: o Food Services Management Program, Lease of Gym Space for Pierce School, for Devotion School, rental of tables and chairs; student bus and METCO transportation services; printing of Adult Education catalog • Supported ongoing Devotion School construction project with planning for purchases of: fixtures, furniture, information technology and services, telecom, Level 2 Testing Services, as well as construction support as needed • Continued to use online office supply ordering for School and Town Departments • Continued using Purchasing Card (PCard) program with School Department for appropriate purchases • Continued using building supply company accounts with School and Building Departments for appropriate purchases • Worked with TEC Cooperative Purchasing Program to partner with other Communities to save money. • Continued to upgrade a majority of copiers within both the Town and School departments, taking advantage of a cost-savings offer of free maintenance service, resulting in significant savings. • Under renewed snack and beverage vending contracts, received commission from soda and snack machines amounting to $3,781.12 in FY17. For the first half of FY18, commissions generated $1,447.53. • Continue to use state and MHEC contract vendors who offer competitive prices.

General Services Activity

General Services provides centralized printing and mailing services for all Town and School departments. Services are done in the most economical manner on site, using outside vendors only if necessary. Pick-up & delivery of mail and offset high quality printing are done by the mail room and print shop staff.  Continued to work with the IT Department to continue to review existing telephone carriers’ bills, to eliminate lines and modify service as required to reduce costs.  Reviewed bills with cellular phone provider, changed plans and phones, resulting in lower fixed monthly costs and improved service.

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 Used in-house print capabilities to reduce the costs of outside printing. The Annual Report, Financial Plan, Financial Trend Monitoring Report, Contract Specifications, Town Meeting Combined Reports, Town Meeting Member Newsletters, Council on Aging newsletters and other materials continue to be printed internally. Norfolk County Registry of Deeds William P. O’Donnell, Register

The Registry of Deeds is the principal office for real property records in Norfolk County. The Registry receives and records hundreds of thousands of documents annually. It houses more than 6 million land documents dating back to 1793. The Registry is a primary and indispensable resource for title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipal officials, homeowners, title examiners, real estate attorneys, genealogists and others with a need for land record information.

The Registry operates under the supervision of the elected Register, William P. O’Donnell who has held the position since 2002. In continuous operation for nearly two hundred and twenty-four years dating back to President George Washington’s administration, the Registry’s mission has remained the same: to maintain and provide for accurate, reliable and accessible land records to all residents and businesses of Norfolk County.

2017 Registry Achievements

 Register William P. O’Donnell and his staff continued their direct outreach to town halls, senior centers, businesses, historical commissions and civic groups across Norfolk County. The Register held office hours at Brookline Town Hall on October 26th.

 The Registry of Deeds Customer Service and Copy Center continues to provide residents and businesses with quality service. This year alone, the Center handled more than 5,000 requests. These requests included the filing of Homesteads, accessing deeds, verifying recorded property documents and assisting those in need of obtaining a mortgage discharge notice. Customers can contact the Customer Service and Copy Center at 781-461-6101. Hours of operations are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

 In calendar year 2017, the Registry collected more than $50 million in revenue.

 The Registries of Deeds had several legislative accomplishments spearheading legislation signed into law in early 2017 that allowed for registered land (Land Court) documents to be recorded electronically.

 First Registry in Massachusetts to electronically record Land Court documents. Phased in approach – discharges in April 2017; all documents by July 2017.

 This year saw a record number of electronic recording filers, approximately 1,400.

 In 2017, we hit a milestone of recording our 35,000 Registry of Deeds book. For the sake of security and redundancy, we store our documents 3 different ways: hard copy, electronically and by microfiche.

 So far this year, more than 12,500 Homesteads applications have been filed at the Registry. The law Chapter 188 (M.G.L.) provides limited protection of one’s home against unsecured creditor claims.

 The Registry in 2017 completed its History Comes Alive Transcription program. The initiative, the first in New England, makes land recorded documents written by scriveners of the 18th and 19th centuries in the old cursive hand writing style much easier to read by converting the words into easy- to- read electronic text. The program earned the praise of two-time Pulitzer Prize historian, David McCullough.

 In 2017, the Registry for easier customer research indexed all land documents recorded from 1793-1900.

 The internet library of images, accessible to the public through the Registry of Deeds’ online research system at www.norfolkdeeds.org continues to expand. Today, all documents dating back to the first ones recorded in 1793 are available for viewing.

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 This year, many technology, office and program improvements were implemented, including the redesigning of our Land Court area. We also continued and strengthened our commitment to cyber security protection of our infrastructure as well as the training of our employees. We also updated our computer equipment and added two major television state-of-the-art monitors to instantly update our staff on incoming electronic recording filings. The Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org is routinely updated to alert the public on such news as real estate statistics, answers to frequently asked questions, the latest schedule for our community outreach initiatives, along with detailing our consumer programs.

 The Registry’s free Consumer Notification Service hit a milestone with its 700th subscriber, a 40% increase from the previous year. This consumer/public safety program, started last year, allows any county resident to opt in to this free notification service and be alerted when any document – fraudulent or otherwise – is recorded against their name. For more information, please see our website at: www.norfolkdeeds.org.

 Register O’Donnell hosted several free computer seminars at the Registry to provide hands-on-training to the public, including trade groups, public officials, real estate professionals, genealogists on how to access land record information, using the Registry’s new website technology. This year the Registry also designed and marketed a new seminar exclusively for municipals officials.

 The Registry expanded its community outreach commitment by working with the Veterans Administration of Boston on our ‘Suits for Success’ program and supporting the New Life Furniture Bank of MA in Walpole to assist those who are in need of household items, including furniture. Our Toys for Tots’ Drive has over the years collected 1,650 presents. Our Annual Holiday Food Drive continues to support Food Pantries in Norfolk County. This year’s food drive was one of the biggest ever. Finally, the Registry received from generous donors more than 3,000 articles of clothing for its “Suits for Success,” program this year.

Brookline Real Estate Activity Report January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017

During 2017, Brookline real estate activity saw decreases in both total sales volume and average sales price.

There was a 13% decrease in documents recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds for Brookline in 2017, resulting in a decrease of 1,379 documents from 10,758 to 9,379.

The total volume of real estate sales in Brookline during 2017 was $1,023,493,727, an 11% decrease from 2016. The average sale price of homes and commercial property was also down 4% in Brookline. The average sale was $1,263,572.

The number of mortgages recorded (1,768) on Brookline properties in 2017 was down 24% from the previous year. Total mortgage indebtedness decreased 28% to $1,335,386,419 during the same period.

There were 4 foreclosure deeds filed in Brookline during 2017, the same number recorded in 2016.

Homestead activity decreased 7% in Brookline during 2017 with 777 homesteads filed compared to 835 in 2016.

Finally, our objective at the Registry will always be to maintain, secure, accurate and accessible land records for the residents and businesses of Norfolk County. It is a privilege to serve you.

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Retirement Frank Zecha, Register O’Donnell speaking at the Walpole Director Register O’Donnell with staff and a constituent at Milton Town Hall Office Hours Council on Aging The Brookline Contributory Retirement System administers the defined benefit plan for most Town of Brookline employees, with the exception of teachers and school administrators whose program is administered by the Teachers’ Retirement System. The defined benefit plan, governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32, provides retirement, disability, survivor, and death benefits to members and their beneficiaries.

The System has a five-member Board who is responsible for ensuring that the system is operating in compliance with M.G.L. Chapter 32. The Chairman of the Board is James (Chet) Riley one of the two elected members and Rob Ward, Chief of the Brookline Fire Department being the other elected member. Director of Finance Jeana Franconi serves on the Board pursuant to an appointment by the Board of Selectman. Brookline Comptroller Michael F. DiPietro serves as the ex-officio member, as required by M.G. L. Chapter 32 and Gary Altman, an attorney who works full-time as a labor arbitrator and mediator, was chosen by the four Board members to serve as the fifth member.

The System is funded through member’s deductions, investments and annual appropriations from the Town and Brookline Housing Authority. The Board adopted an actuarial funding schedule to ensure the financial stability of the retirement system. According to the most recent actuarial report, as of January 1, 2017 the system was 55.37% funded.

As of December 31, 2017, there were 3,978 members, 1,958 active members, 893 retired members or their beneficiaries and 1,127 inactive members. During 2017, the Board voted to grant 35 superannuation and 6 accidental disability retirement allowances. The Board also approved 37 refunds and 57 transfers of member accounts.

The current staff is comprised of: Frank Zecha, Executive Director; Maryruth Capite, Deputy Director of Finance; and Brigid Connolly, Administrative Assistant. The staff is responsible for: financial transactions; reporting of investment activity, comprehensive pre- and post- retirement counseling to employees and their families regarding their rights and benefits; issuing monthly pension payments to retirees and /or their survivors; and other required governmental reporting.

The system has Russell Investments as its OCIO. The Board establishes investment policies, and allocates system assets to various investments.

The Retirement System is valued at $309.1 million as of December 31, 2017. In calendar year 2017 the System had a 13.8% rate of return. The 25-year rate of return is greater than 7.840% annually.

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TOWN OF BROOKLINE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY Main Number: 617-730-2000 Emergency Telephone Numbers: Police 911 Fire 911 Highway 617-730-2160 Parks: 617-730-2167 Water/Sewer: 617-730-2175 Home Heating: 617-730-2300 (weekedays); 617-730-2222 (evenings and weekends) TTY (phone devices for the DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE deaf) Assessor's Office 617-730-2060 Brookline Interactive Group 617-731-8566 Building Department 617-730-2100 Comptroller's Office 617-730-2022 Conservation Commission 617-730-2088 Council on Aging 617-730-2103 Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations 617-730-2777 Emergency Management 617-730-2105 Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center 617-713-5435 Fire Department (non-emergency) 617-730-2272 Health Department 617-730-2300 617-730-2327 HELP Program 617-730-2752 Human Resources Office 617-730-2120 Information Technology Department 617-730-2003 Library (Main) 617-730-2345 617-730-2364 Library (Coolidge Corner) 617-730-2380 Library (Putterham) 617-730-2385 Parks and Open Space Division of DPW 617-730-2088 Planning and Community Development 617-730-2130 Police (non emergency) 617-730-2222 Public Works 617-730-2156 617-734-2952 Purchasing Division 617-730-2195 Recreation Department 617-730-2069 617-739-7698 Retirement Board Members and Staff 617-730-2028 Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course 617-730-2078 Select Board's Office 617-730-2200 617-730-2213 Soule Early Childhood Center 617-739-7598 Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention for Youth 617-713-5155 Tobacco Control 617-730-2333 Town Administrator 617-730-2200 Town Clerk 617-730-2010 617-730-2572 Town Counsel 617-730-2190 Transportation Division of DPW 617-730-2177 Treasurer/Collector 617-730-2020 Veterans Services 617-730-2112 Walnut Hills Cemetery 617-730-2179

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TOWN OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS

Settled: 1638 Incorporated: 1705 Population: 58,666 Land Area: 6.82 Square Miles

Government: Representative Town Meeting (240 Elected Town Meeting Members and eight at large) with five-member Select Board and Town Administrator.

Located four miles from downtown Boston, in Norfolk County. Brookline is one of the largest towns in New England. It is primarily a mature suburban, residential community. The primary occupations of Brookline residents are management and professional, heavily concentrated in the fields of medicine and education.

FY 2017 Assessed Valuation: $21,664,629,041 FY 2017 Tax Rates: Residential $9.88 Commercial $16.20 Residential Exemption $2,269

Political Parties and Designations

Democrat 16,994 Unenrolled 16,166 Republican 2,137 United Independent Party 157 Libertarian 57 Green Rainbow 37 Socialist 11 American Independent 10 Conservative 8 Green Party USA 6 Interdependent 3rd Party 6 MA Independent Party 5 Working Families 3 Pizza Party 3 We the People 2 Natural Law Party 1 Prohibition Party 1 Pirate Party 1

Brookline Legislators

United States Senators United States Representative Congress Elizabeth Warren Joseph P. Kennedy Edward J. Markey

State Senator State Representatives Cynthia S. Creem Edward F. Coppinger Michael Moran Jeffrey Sanchez Frank Israel Smizik

The Town of Brookline is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. The Town of Brookline does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. The Town of Brookline does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices.

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